German police have broken up a protest camp housing environmental activists in a forest near the Tesla electric car factory in Grünheide outside Berlin, citing violations of public safety and order.

The occupation had been going on since the end of February and was directed against the expansion of the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. According to the police headquarters, the assembly was broken up due to violations of public safety and order.

Authorities say those protesting the US carmaker's expansion plans will be allowed to return after the area is combed for WWII bombs. Environmentalists have fought expansion for months and call authorities dishonest.

Police try to clear Tesla plant protesters from a treehouse camp in a German forest:: Gruenheide, Germany :::: Mila, Anti-Tesla camp spokesperson "I think it shows that all means are being tried here to push us away from this place,

A camp of protesters opposed to the expansion of U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla's plant in Grueneheide near Berlin is being cleared, a police spokesperson said on Tuesday.