A self-described “anti-capitalist” group that claimed responsibility for violent unrest in Philadelphia during the “Summer of Rage” in 2020 is now supporting extremists targeting Tesla dealerships and vehicles nationwide.
The group, Philly Anti-Capitalist, has posted online instructions for carrying out attacks more effectively, urging followers to avoid Molotov cocktails due to the forensic evidence they leave behind. Instead, the group suggests using more sophisticated incendiary methods and provides detailed guidance on placement and execution.
Tesla facilities and owners have become the focus of escalating attacks amid growing hostility toward Elon Musk, who currently leads US President Donald Trump’s department of government efficiency (DOGE). Attorney general Pam Bondi has classified these incidents as “domestic terrorism,” and federal authorities have begun prosecuting suspects involved in the arson cases.
Federal crackdown on Tesla attacks
On Thursday, the justice department announced charges against three individuals accused of firebombing Tesla dealerships and charging stations across the country.
Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, allegedly threw eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon, on January 20.
Lucy Grace Nelson (also known as Justin Thomas Nelson), 42, was arrested in Loveland, Colorado, on January 29 for attempting to set Teslas ablaze using Molotov cocktails.
Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, is accused of vandalising Tesla charging stations in Charleston, South Carolina, with anti-Trump and pro-Ukraine graffiti before setting three of them on fire on March 7.
Following the arrests, Trump took to Truth Social to denounce the attacks, writing, “I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20-year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!”
Philly Anti-Capitalist’s history of violence
Philly Anti-Capitalist first gained notoriety during the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd, when members vandalised businesses, smashed an ATM, defaced public property with anarchist graffiti, and destroyed a University of Pennsylvania police vehicle. The violence prompted local authorities to issue alerts advising students to stay indoors.
“An initial UPenn alert about the unrest was sent to the Penn community at 9.37 pm on Aug. 25,” reported The Daily Pennsylvanian at the time. “The Division of Public Safety updated its website with a more detailed explanation of the events at approximately 10.00 pm that night, before an all-clear update was issued at 10.21 pm.”
Now, the same group is cheering on the wave of Tesla-related arson attacks. In an online post, Philly Anti-Capitalist said, “Seeing the wave of Tesla arsons has made us incredibly happy.”
The group’s website not only encourages further attacks but provides explicit guidance on how to maximise destruction while avoiding capture. The post advises against Molotov cocktails and instead outlines alternative explosive devices, their ideal placement on Tesla vehicles, and safety precautions for attackers.
“Stay anonymous, get home safe, and go torch the ever-loving s— out of every part of this miserable society,” the post concludes.
Federal agencies remain tight-lipped
Fox News Digital reached out to multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and Pennsylvania State Police, but none provided a comment on the matter. The Philadelphia police department, the district attorney’s office, and the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office also did not respond to inquiries.
Authorities continue investigating the growing pattern of attacks on Tesla properties, and federal prosecutors are moving forward with cases against those already charged.
