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Tennessee Man Arrested in Energy Facility Attack Plot
A Tennessee man was arrested for plotting to attack an energy facility with a drone carrying explosives, driven by white supremacist ideology.
English
United States
Us PoliticsEnergy SecurityTerrorismCybersecurityArrestExtremismFbiPower Grid
Department Of Justice (Doj)FbiYmca
Skyler PhilippiMerrick B. GarlandChristopher Wray
- What charges has Skyler Philippi been arrested on?
- Skyler Philippi, a 24-year-old Columbia, Tennessee man, was arrested for attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and destroy an energy facility. He allegedly planned to fly a drone packed with explosives into a substation to further his white supremacist ideology.
- Describe Skyler Philippi's plan to attack the energy facility.
- Philippi's plot involved researching previous attacks on substations, determining that firearms alone weren't sufficient. He planned to use a drone carrying explosives, and even purchased C-4, other explosives, and black powder to create pipe bombs.
- How did the FBI prevent Philippi from carrying out his attack?
- The FBI, working with confidential human sources, infiltrated Philippi's plan. They provided him with explosives and participated in his reconnaissance of the target substation before arresting him on November 2nd, 2024.
- What was Skyler Philippi's motivation behind the planned attack?
- Philippi's ideology was described as racially motivated and violent extremist. He allegedly stated that attacking the power grid would "shock the system" and cause widespread disruption.
- What are the potential consequences Skyler Philippi faces if convicted?
- Philippi faces up to life in prison if convicted on the charges of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted destruction of an energy facility. The FBI Director and Attorney General praised the swift action taken to prevent the attack.