A person trying to torch a Tesla charging station in protest towards US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk ended up setting himself on hearth, authorities stated.
The suspect, recognized as 24-year-old Daniel Clarke-Pounder, used Molotov cocktails to destroy three electrical automobile (EV) chargers in a South Carolina car parking zone on Friday. Federal prosecutors stated he left behind graffiti studying “F–okay Trump” and “Lengthy stay the Ukraine.”
Clarke-Pounder, a mechanic from James Island, was seen throwing 5 firebombs when one ignited his personal clothes, in accordance with witnesses. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts confirmed that he fled the scene with flames on his again.
“The suspect had unintentionally caught their very own again on hearth whereas throwing the units,” the preliminary police report famous.
Following a public attraction for data, authorities arrested Clarke-Pounder later that day. It stays unclear how severely he was injured.
“Whereas we are going to defend the general public’s proper to peaceable protest, we is not going to hesitate to behave when protest crosses the road into violence and mayhem,” appearing US legal professional Brook B Andrews stated. “These sorts of assaults haven’t any place in our neighborhood. We should stay united in our dedication to security and respect for all, no matter political variations.”
Clarke-Pounder was arraigned in federal courtroom Friday afternoon and faces as much as 20 years in jail. Police information point out he had a previous arrest in Might 2023 for DUI, possession of an open alcohol container, and driving with out insurance coverage.
The assault is the newest in a string of incidents concentrating on Tesla amid backlash over Musk’s position in Trump’s administration as head of the division of presidency effectivity (DOGE).
Final week, a Tesla dealership in Colorado was firebombed, with vandals spray-painting “Nazi automobiles” on the constructing.
