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Skyler Philippi, Suspected of Plotting Nashville Power Grid Bomb, Unmasked
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Skyler Philippi, Suspected of Plotting Nashville Power Grid Bomb, Unmasked

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The authorities have unmasked nashville The suspect in the drone terror plot, Skyler Philippi, 24, appeared in court documents wearing a skull mask and displaying pipe bombs in a thwarted effort to blow up Music City’s power grid.

He is accused of plotting to blow up a power plant with a bomb-laden drone that authorities say was “on” when he was arrested in a parking lot near the target.

Federal prosecutors will ask the judge to order him jailed while he awaits trial at a hearing on Nov. 13, arguing that “no condition or combination of (bail) conditions will reasonably ensure the safety of any other person and the community.”

FBI foils man’s alleged plan to attack Nashville’s power grid with explosive-laden drone

Skyler Robert Philippi, 24, photographed in his Nashville mug shot wearing a skeleton t-shirt

Skyler Robert Philippi, 24, photographed in his Nashville mugshot wearing the same skeleton T-shirt he posed in while holding alleged bombs in a plot to blow up Music City’s power grid. (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)

Prosecutors described Philippi as an alleged “accelerationist,” which the Anti-Defamation League defines as “a term white supremacists have assigned to their desire to accelerate the collapse of society as we know it” with roots dating back to Marxism.

“If you want to do the most damage as an accelerationist, attack the high-tax political and economic zones in every major metropolis,” Philippi wrote in a text message to a government informant, according to the criminal complaint.

The informant later introduced him to two undercover FBI agents who helped stop the plot before the drone, armed with a real bomb, could take off.

Filipos reportedly discussed getting engaged a mass shooting at a YMCA and derailing a train with anti-Semitic motives, according to the complaint.

Skyler Philippi with mask and pumps.

A selfie that prosecutors say shows Skyler Philippi and two undercover agents posing with bombs intended for their alleged plot to blow up Nashville’s power grid. Philippi, on the right, appears wearing the same shirt in his mugshot. (Department of Justice)

Filipos allegedly claimed past affiliation with white supremacist groups, blamed the September 11, 2001terrorist attacks against “a Jewish person” and told another informant that he had been involved in a shooting with a black man in Lousiville, Kentucky, according to the complaint.

He investigated past attacks on the power grid and concluded that damaging eight or more power plants at once would paralyze the country, and he allegedly planned to use a homemade drone equipped with explosives.

When the FBI moved to arrest him, they found him in the back seat of a car with the drone and a real bomb, according to the criminal complaint. Moments earlier, he allegedly handed his gun to one of the informants, who he thought was going to be keeping watch.

FBI arrests man and woman with ‘extremist’ views in alleged power grid attack targeting five substations

Philippi test flight

Skyler Philippi pictured while meeting with undercover agents in an open area near Franklin, Tennessee, to test fly a drone, according to federal prosecutors. (Department of Justice)

“As alleged, the defendant in this case conducted extensive research into explosive devices and potential targets to launch an attack against critical infrastructure,” Joe Carrico, FBI special agent in charge of the FBI field office, said in a statement. Nashville. “The FBI is committed to doing everything in our power to detect, disrupt and deter cyberattacks.” domestic violent extremistsand will continue to pursue those who seek to commit acts of violence to promote their ideological beliefs.”

Philippi faces charges of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted destruction of an energy facility.

He has not yet pleaded guilty.

Read the criminal complaint:

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“Driven by a violent, racially motivated extremist ideology, the defendant planned to attack the power grid with a drone and explosives, leaving thousands of Americans and critical infrastructure such as hospitals without power.” FBI Director Christopher Wray. he said in a statement.

“The FBI’s quick work led to the detection and disruption of the defendant’s plot before it could cause any harm. We are committed to holding accountable anyone who threatens the security of our critical infrastructure or seeks to harm American communities through violent extremism internal”.