Highly charged Teslas targeted as anti-Musk protests spread

In the early morning of Donald Trump's inauguration day, a person wearing a black cloak and face mask wheeled a cart down an Oregon pavement.

- Dara Kerr and Nick Robins-Early

He was headed toward a Tesla showroom in Salem, and his cart appeared to be loaded with molotov cocktails. One by one, he took out the handmade explosives, lit them on fire and lobbed them at the glass-walled dealership.

By the time police arrived, the showroom window was shattered, a fire was burning on the pavement, a nearby Tesla saloon car was ablaze and the alleged vandal had fled. The whole scene was caught by security footage, according to an affidavit from a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The showroom's general manager estimated $500,000 in damages, with seven vehicles struck and one completely destroyed.

The incident is one of dozens to hit Tesla dealerships, cars and the electric vehicle maker's charging stations since Trump took office. Many bear explicit messages protesting against Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a senior adviser to the US president.