Man accused of trying to use drone with explosives to destroy Tennessee power plant

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) – A Tennessee man is facing federal charges for allegedly trying to use a weapon of mass destruction to destroy a power plant in Nashville. Ministry of Justice.

Skyler Philippi, 24, allegedly told a confidential human source about her desire to stage a mass attack on a YMCA facility in Columbia in June 2024. The Justice Department disclosed that he also briefed another confidential human source on the impact of attacking major interstate substations, saying that attacking several substations would “shock the system” and cause other substations to fail.

Philippi allegedly investigated previous attacks on electrical substations and concluded that shooting at them would not be enough. The Ministry of Justice added that it planned to use a drone loaded with explosives and fly the drone into the substation. WSMV reports.

“As accused, Skyler Philippi believed he was minutes away from launching an attack on a Nashville energy facility to further his violent white supremacist ideology, but the FBI had already compromised his plan,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“As alleged in today’s charges, Skyler Philippi, a man committed to white supremacist ideology and the destruction of our critical infrastructure, planned to attack Nashville’s power grid using a drone carrying an explosive device. Thanks to the courageous work of the FBI, his plan was foiled,” said Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

Philippi in September 2024 Together with undercover FBI employees, he went to an electrical substation that had been previously investigated and targeted by him and carried out reconnaissance of the Philippi substation. The Justice Department alleges that he ordered the plastic explosive compound known as C-4 and other explosives from undercover employees while driving.

Philippi later allegedly purchased black powder for use in pipe bombs that he planned to use during the attack. The DOJ said it contacted another confidential human source: “If you want to do the most damage as an accelerator, attack high-economic, high-tax, political areas in every major metropolitan area.”

The Justice Department claims Philippi said “Holy ****,” referring to the substation. “This will go up like Fourth of July fireworks.”

Philippi also allegedly discussed operational security issues, such as the need for disguise, the use of leather gloves, wearing shoes that were too big, the need to burn his clothes after the attack, and not bringing a smartphone on the night of the attack.

Later, on November 2, 2024, he participated in a Norse ritual in which a Norse prayer was recited and the Norse god Odin was discussed. Philippi allegedly told undercover employees that “this is where the New Age begins” and that “it’s time to do something big” that will be remembered “in the annals of history.”

The Department of Justice announced that he and undercover employees then went to the operation area. The undercover officers took up their assigned positions to monitor Philippi. Meanwhile, he was detained by law enforcement officers.

At the time of his arrest, the Department of Justice alleged that he had powered the drone in the back of a vehicle and that the explosive device had been set up and placed next to the drone. Philippi is accused of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy an energy facility. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

You can find the full criminal complaint against Philippi below:

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