Man arrested in alleged neo-Nazi-inspired plot to destroy Nashville power plant: Department of Justice

The Department of Justice announced Monday that a 24-year-old Tennessee man has been arrested and charged with allegedly planning to use weapons of mass destruction in a neo-Nazi-inspired plot to destroy an energy facility near Nashville.

Skyler Philippi allegedly planned to attack Nashville’s power grid with an explosive-rigged drone after conducting extensive research into how such an attack could be used to “shock the system,” he reportedly told one confidential FBI source who learned of his conspiracy, he told prosecutors.

The complaint says the FBI began investigating Philippi in June after a confidential source who had contact with him reported to the FBI his alleged willingness to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA near Columbia, Tennessee.

Philippi has allegedly repeatedly espoused his commitment to white supremacist and accelerationist ideologies, which promote the view that prosecutors say a destabilizing terrorist attack on the country’s energy sector could spark unrest leading to civil war.

“I definitely want to get to Nashville, 100 percent, I want to get to Nashville,” Philippi allegedly said during one of the meetings taped by undercover agents, according to the complaint. “I also know Louisville pretty darn well since I lived there. I spent about five months searching every location (power plant) and even coming up with a game plan to get there as quickly as I could. I had entire maps made, printed on paper, to actually do it.”

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In September, Philippi drove with undercover FBI employees to an electrical substation he had previously investigated, and while in transit, Philippi allegedly ordered from informants what he believed was an equivalent of C-4 explosives, according to the complaint.

According to the complaint, during the reconnaissance mission, undercover agents recorded Filippi saying: “Oh shit. It’s going to be like a goddamn Fourth of July firework.”

The complaint says Philippi allegedly met with undercover agents on Saturday to test the drone and carry out the attack. The complaint included a photo that prosecutors say shows Filippi conducting a test flight of the drone.

The complaint states that agents delivered to Philippi pipe bombs allegedly ordered by the defendant that contained an inert substance to prevent detonation. Another photo included in the complaint shows a masked person, prosecutors say, Philippi with two undercover FBI agents displaying pipe bombs and an explosive device.

Before going to the operation site, Filippi took part in a “Nordic ritual” during which he allegedly said: “A new era begins here” and that “it’s time to do something great” that will be remembered “in the annals of history,” according to the report. complaints.

The complaint states that upon arrival at the operation site, as undercover agents proceeded to their assigned observation posts, Philippi allegedly activated the drone with an explosive device to which he believed an active C-4 was connected. Then he was taken into custody, the prosecutor’s office said.

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“Skyler Philippi’s indictment believed he was moments away from launching an attack on a Nashville utility in furtherance of his brutal white supremacist ideology, but the FBI had already discredited his plot,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “This case is yet another warning to those who seek to sow violence and chaos in the name of hate by attacking our nation’s critical infrastructure: The Department of Justice will find you, we will disrupt your conspiracy, and we will hold you accountable.”

Philippi is accused of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy an energy facility. The Justice Department said he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Court records show he had his first hearing on Monday and was remanded in custody. The preparatory and detention hearing continued until November 13.

ABC News has reached out to Philippi’s attorney for comment.

Man arrested in alleged neo-Nazi-inspired plot to destroy Nashville power plant: Department of Justice originally appeared abcnews.go.com