A 24-year-old Tennessee man fueled by “violent white supremacist ideology” has been arrested for allegedly plotting to use a drone carrying a bomb to attack a Nashville energy facility.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said Skyler Philippi “beleived he was moments away” from launching his attack when he was arrested because “the FBI had already compromised his plot.”
Authorities noted that thousand of Americans would have been left without power had Philippi been successful in his plot. When he was arrested, the would-be terrorist had powered up his drone and preparing to attach his bomb.
Investigators say Philippi told a confidential informant in June that he wanted to conduct a mass shooting at a Columbia, Tennessee, YMCA. A month later, he discussed with a different informant his ideas about “attacking large interstate substations” in order to “shock the system” and cause other substations to fail.
He researched previous attacks on electric substations — most carried out with firearms — and decided a bomb would be a better choice for his attack.
By September, undercover FBI agents had inflitrated his plot. That month he conducted a reconnaissance mission of a substation he planned to attack, with undercover agents traveling with him. While in the car, Philippi ordered C-4, a plastic explosive, and other explosives from the agents. He later ordered black power for his pipe bombs.
In a text message, he told the agent, ““if you want to do the most damage as an accelerationist, attack high economic, high tax, political zones in every major metropolis.” About his substation target, he said, “Holy s***. This will go up like a fu**** fourth of July firework.”
Philippi talked extensively about security for the bombing operation, including disguises, leather gloves, wearing too-big shoes, burning clothes after the attack, and not bringing cell phones during the attack.
Philippi participated in a “Nordic ritual” on November 2, praying to Odin, a Norse god. Philippi told the undercover agents that “this is where the New Age begins. He said it was “time to do something big” that would be remembered “in the anals of history” before driving with the undercover agents to the bombing site. As the agents took their posts as “lookouts,” law enforcement arrested Philippi, with his “drone powered up, and the explosive device was armed and located next to the drone.”
Philippi has been charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted destruction of an energy facility and faces a maximum term of life in prison.
