FBI Arrests White Supremacist Moments Before Planned Terrorist Attack in Tennessee
Federal agents recently arrested Skyler Philippi, a 24-year-old Tennessee man, for allegedly attempting to attack a Nashville power substation using a drone armed with explosives. According to the FBI, Philippi intended to disrupt power in the region and aimed to use the attack as part of a larger effort to destabilize infrastructure across the U.S. Authorities reported that Philippi had sought to strap several pounds of C-4 explosives to a drone to inflict maximum damage, a strategy he believed would be more effective than recent firearm attacks on similar facilities. His plan was revealed in newly unsealed court records, detailing how undercover agents and a confidential informant tracked Philippi’s activity for several months.
The FBI noted that Philippi openly discussed his motives with undercover operatives, disclosing ties to various white nationalist and extremist groups, including the National Alliance. He reportedly shared that his plans were fueled by a belief in preserving “white racial purity” and highlighted the potential for such attacks to undermine the national grid and create chaos. A recent Department of Homeland Security report indicated a trend in extremists viewing power infrastructure as a “soft target” to maximize societal disruption. Last year, similar motives were cited in an attack on North Carolina substations, which left over 45,000 people without power.
In addition to plotting the explosive attack, Philippi allegedly provided undercover agents with portions of his manifesto, which included further details of his ideological beliefs and outlined a vision for larger disruptions. He was taken into custody last weekend just as he was preparing to execute the attack in Nashville, with undercover operatives supplying what he believed to be real C-4 explosives. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the FBI’s vigilance in thwarting domestic terrorism, citing the incident as an example of heightened security efforts surrounding critical infrastructure. Philippi’s preliminary court appearance is scheduled for November 13, with a public defender appointed to represent him.
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