Protesters vs Tesla Clash With Cops In Germany

Climate activists protesting the expansion of Tesla's Brandenburg factory in Germany clashed with police after some attempted to storm the factory grounds, Ehren Wynder reported for United Press International (UPI).

About 800 activists showed up at the Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory on Friday as part of the Disrupt Tesla Action Days. I Photo: Tagesschau

Disrupt, a coalition of self-declared anti-capitalist groups, said in a statement on its website that about 800 activists showed up at the Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory on Friday as part of the Disrupt Tesla Action Days.

The group stated that the intention of the demonstration was "not to stop production for a weekend, but rather to prevent the factory expansion and initiate a traffic turnaround."

Brandenburg police, in a release, said some protesters attempted to break into the facility.

"As they were in the immediate vicinity of the Deutsche Bahn railroad tracks at the time and partially entered them, rail traffic between Erkner and Fürstenwalde had to be temporarily stopped," the statement read.

Officers reported preventing the group from entering the Tesla grounds and arrested 16 people. Several people were injured, including 21 police officers.