Federal authorities thwarted an alleged terrorist plot to bomb an electric substation in Nashville, Tennessee, a plan that targeted a power grid operated by one of the nation’s largest public electric utilities. A 24-year-old man, Skyler Philippi, was arrested over the weekend of Nov. 2, accused of planning the attack that aimed to destabilize the energy sector in pursuit of extremist goals.
“As charged, Skyler Philippi believed he was moments away from launching an attack on a Nashville energy facility to further his violent white supremacist ideology – but the FBI had already compromised his plot,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “This case serves as yet another warning to those seeking to sow violence and chaos in the name of hatred by attacking our country’s critical infrastructure: the Justice Department will find you, we will disrupt your plot, and we will hold you accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that Philippi, a Tennessee resident, was detained on Saturday as he prepared to launch an explosive-laden drone at an electrical substation.