Columbia man arrested by federal agents for attempting to use ‘weapon of mass destruction’ to destroy energy facility
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Columbia man was arrested by federal agents and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction to destroy an energy facility after a months-long investigation, according to the Department of Justice.
““Dangerous threats to our critical infrastructure threaten every member of this community and will not be tolerated,” acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennesse, Thomas J. Jaworski, said. “We will always work with our law enforcement partners to identify and stop any and all efforts to wreak this kind of havoc and will not hesitate in prosecuting those involved to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to a Monday press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, 24-year-old Skyler Philippi told a confidential source about a desire to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA facility in or around Columbia in June 2024.
The following month, Philippi reportedly told another source that attacking an electric substation would “shock the system” and cause other substations to fail. The DOJ said Philippi planned to use a drone with explosives attached to it and fly the drone into the substation.
The complaint added that in August, Philippi had written a “manifesto” and admitted to getting into a “shootout” with a Black man in Louisville, Kentucky. During the same conversation in which he admitted to being involved with the shootout, the complaint alleged that Philippi told an undercover FBI employee that he thought the September 11, 2001 attacks were “an inside job organized by a Jewish person.”
In September, Philippi drove to an electric substation with undercover FBI employees to conduct research and reconnaissance on the station. Philippi also stated to the undercover agents that he had previously researched power grid attacks in California and North Carolina. Philippi allegedly ordered C-4, which is a plastic explosive compound, and other explosives from the undercover employees. The DOJ added that Philippi later bought supplies to build pipe bombs.
“Holy sh–. This will go up like a fu**in fourth of July firework,” Philippi allegedly stated, referring to the substation.
Last month, Philippi allegedly instructed the undercover FBI employees to build the pipe bombs, but the undercover agents used an inert substance during the construction so that they would not detonate. The complaint added that Philippi and the agents also instructed the agents about what to wear and specific items to bring.
On Saturday, Philippi reportedly partook in a Nordic ritual and recited a Nordic prayer, telling undercover employees that “this is where the New Age begins” and that it was “time to do something big.” Philippi allegedly carried a handgun to the site, indicating that if they were confronted by law enforcement, he would shoot at them.
The complaint said that the drone was powered up and the explosive device was armed and next to the drone at the time of arrest.
“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 B. Garland said in the press release. “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. I am grateful to the public servants of the FBI for their extraordinary work on this case and for the work they do every day to keep our country safe.”
Agents with Nashville’s FBI field office are investigating the case as well. If convicted, Philippi faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. That sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
“Driven by a racially motivated violent extremist ideology, the Defendant 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 the press release. “The FBI’s swift work led to the detection and disruption of the defendant’s plot before he could cause any damage. We are committed to holding accountable anyone who threatens the security of our critical infrastructure or seeks to harm American communities through domestic violent extremism.”
