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.”
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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.
The FBI stated that Philippi’s actions were reportedly driven by a neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideology, with aspirations of triggering civil unrest and potentially inciting a civil war. If successful, the plot would have left thousands in the region without power.
“Driven by a racially motivated violent extremist ideology, the defendant allegedly planned to attack the power grid with a drone and explosives, leaving thousands of Americans and critical infrastructure like hospitals without power,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “The FBI’s swift work led to the detection and disruption of the defendant’s plot before he could cause any damage.”
According to officials, the FBI initially began monitoring the suspect in June after a confidential informant reported Philippi’s alleged intent to conduct a mass shooting at a YMCA near Columbia, Tennessee. Acting on this tip, FBI agents established undercover contact with Philippi and continued monitoring his activities.
In September, agents accompanied Philippi to an electric substation that he had reportedly gathered information on for the planned attack. During this phase of the investigation, Philippi allegedly sought to obtain explosives from the undercover agents, who then provided him with what he believed to be the equivalent of C-4 incendiary devices, though the bombs were actually inert and incapable of detonation.
Authorities apprehended Philippi during a final drone test flight on Saturday, which he conducted in preparation for an attack scheduled for that evening. Philippi is currently in custody awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 13. He faces multiple charges, and if convicted, could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison.
