Online post alleges that weather conditions prevented explosion of devices at Northvolt

An attempted sabotage at a battery factory construction site east of Montreal was thwarted by wet weather earlier this month, according to an anonymous online post claiming responsibility for the incident. Northvolt, the company behind the construction of the factory for electric vehicle batteries in the Montérégie region, discovered incendiary devices under machinery at the site on May 6, putting workers at serious risk.

In a post on the website Montréal Counter-information, the writer claimed that the devices were planted to damage machinery and hinder the project’s progress. The writer also pointed out that the devices failed to ignite due to the high humidity and rain, which decreased the chances of ignition.

The attempted sabotage is currently under investigation by Richelieu—Saint−Laurent regional police. The post also criticized the Quebec government for allegedly neglecting environmental regulations and turning a blind eye to Northvolt’s violations of laws and codes.

This is not the first incident of sabotage at the construction site. In previous instances, individuals laid down strips of nails, damaged a vehicle, and planted nails and iron bars in trees planned to be cut down by the company. The website Montréal Counter-information, which provides a platform for local anarchists, has been used to claim responsibility for these acts of sabotage.

The incident has raised concerns about the impact of the future lithium mines in northern Quebec and the potential harm to Indigenous communities in the area. The ongoing investigation will shed more light on the motives behind the attempted sabotage and the individuals involved in the incident.