Rallies planned at Germany's Tesla factory days after sabotage attack
Hundreds of environmental activists are set to protest on Sunday against the massive expansion of US electric carmaker Tesla's factory outside of Berlin.
Also planned is a second rally by local residents who want to show their solidarity with Tesla and who support the project as part of the area's future development.
Police will accompany both events in the small town of Grünheide, which is located south-east of the German capital in an area known for its forests and lakes.
Production at the giant factory was halted on Tuesday after a suspected arson attack on the power supply by a left-wing extremist group. Authorities say electricity could still be days away from being restored.
"An attack on Tesla is an attack on us," said the organizers of the counter-rally. "The recent attacks are a threat to our values, our cohesion and our community."
The environmentalist protest organizers say they had no hand in the power failure, which also affected thousands of local residents.
Their rally on Sunday is to demand that local leaders abide by the results of a non-binding referendum held last month.
Residents were asked to participate in a poll on Tesla's plans to expand the 300-hectare site by adding a freight depot, warehouses and a company kindergarten on an additional 170 hectares. A majority said they were against the expansion.
About 100 hectares of forest would have to be cleared to make room for the additions to the site. Activists, deploying a tactic frequently seen in Germany, have been camping out in tents and tree-houses in the forest.
These activists say they will not voluntarily leave the forest even though their permit for staying there expires on Friday.
A spokeswoman for the Stop Tesla (Tesla-stoppen) initiative made it clear that the protest would continue indefinitely. When asked whether they would co-operate in the event of an imminent eviction, she said: "We will stay until we are sure that the forest and the water will no longer be sold to Tesla."
Police announced on Sunday that they were keeping a close eye on the forest protesters.
Although their permit to protest expires on Friday, authorities said following last week's attack, the authorization would be reassessed.
Environmentalists also worry about the pressure the factory puts on the local water supply and the risk of contamination. Grünheide sits in the state of Brandenburg, one of Germany's driest regions.
The umbrella group "Tesla den Hahn Abdrehen," which translates as "Turn off Tesla's Tap," said the protest would start at 2 pm (1300 GMT) at the train station near the plant and end at Grünheide's town hall.
The second rally was due to start at the same time and at one point the routes of the two processions were to intersect.
Lou Winters, spokesperson for "Tesla den Hahn Abdrehen," said the left-wing group that has claimed the attack on the electricity grid was not among its participants.
The previously unknown Volcano Group declared that it was responsible for setting fire to an electricity pylon that served the Tesla factory, other businesses and residents. Federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation.
Tesla's European Gigafactory has proven divisive since before it even opened in March 2022. It employs around 12,000 people in an area that has been eager to attract investment, but there has also been apprehension surrounding Tesla's environmental and labour policies.
Tesla has rejected allegations of causing ecological damage and says it is moving forward with its expansion plans, despite the local opposition.
Meanwhile, grid operator Edis said on Sunday it is making progress with work to repair the electricity pylon set on fire in the recent attack. Two new high-voltage portals have been installed, the company said on its website.
Specialists were working continuously in shifts on the electricity pylon. According to Edis, progress was also being made with the underground cable systems despite the wet conditions.
