BERLIN, May 10 (Reuters) - Protesters opposed to

expansion of U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla's plant

in Grueneheide near Berlin clashed with police as some of them

attempted to storm the facility on Friday.

Some 800 people took part in the protest, according to the

organising group Disrupt Tesla, which claims the expansion would

damage the environment.

A Reuters video showed dozens of people wearing blue caps

and face-covering masks coming from a nearby wooded area and

attempting to storm the company's premises with policemen trying

to prevent them, including by force. At least one protester was

detained.

"Why do the police let the left-wing protestors off so

easily?" Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on his social medial platform

X, adding that the demonstrators didn't manage to break through.

The video also showed medical personnel helping some injured

people.

"We are here today to draw attention to the Tesla factory in

Grunheide for the environmental destruction here," Disrupt Tesla

spokesperson Ole Becker told Reuters.

The group also wants to highlight environmental destruction

in countries like Argentina or Bolivia, brought about by lithium

mining, according to Becker. Lithium is a key resource for

electric vehicle batteries.

"We protect the freedom of assembly," Brandenburg police

spokesperson Mario Heinemann said, "but we are also responsible

for public order and safety. That means we will also intervene

when necessary".

The police confirmed that the protesters tried to enter the

plant's premises, but were prevented, with several people taken

into custody, and that it received a few reports of injuries.

Some of the demonstrators have damaged a few Tesla cars

using pyrotechnics and paint at a nearby car storage site, the

police spokesperson added.

Tesla earlier this week said it will shut the factory for

one day on Friday, without specifying a reason.