Harris voter accused of attempting to use weapon of mass destruction to destroy Nashville energy facility, DOJ says

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Columbia, Tennessee man is facing federal 
charges after he allegedly attempted to use a weapon of mass destruction 
to attempt to destroy a Nashville energy facility, according to the 
Department of Justice.

Skyler Philippi, 24, allegedly told a confidential human source about his 
desire to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA facility in Columbia in June 
2024. The DOJ explains that he also told another confidential human source 
about the impact of attacking large interstate substations and said that 
attacking several substations would “shock the system,” causing other 
substations to malfunction.

Philippi allegedly researched previous attacks on electric substations and 
concluded that shooting at them wouldn’t suffice. The DOJ added that he 
planned to use a drone with explosives attached to it and fly the drone 
into the substation.

“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,” said 
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“As alleged in today’s charges, Skyler Philippi, a man dedicated 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 brave work by the FBI, his scheme was 
thwarted,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

You can find the full criminal complaint against Philippi below:

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25268120/philippi_complaint_-
_file_stamped_copy.pdf

In September 2024, Philippi drove with undercover employees of the FBI to 
an electric substation previously researched and targeted by him and 
Philippi conducted reconnaissance of the substation. The DOJ alleges that 
while driving, he ordered a plastic explosive composition known as C-4 and 
other explosives from the undercover.

He later allegedly purchased black powder to be used in pipe bombs, which 
Philippi intended to use during the attack. The DOJ said he contacted 
another confidential human source, “If you want to do the most damage as 
an accelerationist, attack high economic, high tax, political zones in 
every major metropolis.”

Referring to the substation, the DOJ alleges that Philippi said, “Holy 
****. This will go up like a ****** fourth of July firework.”

Philippi also allegedly discussed operational security, including the need 
for disguises, the use of leather gloves, wearing shoes that are too big, 
the need to burn their clothes after the attack and not bringing 
smartphones on the night of the attack.

Then, on Nov. 2, 2024, he participated in a Nordic ritual, which included 
reciting a Nordic prayer and discussing the Norse god Odin. Philippi 
allegedly told the undercover that “this is where the New Age begins” and 
that it was “time to do something big” that would be remembered “in the 
annals of history.”

The DOJ explained he and the undercovers then drove to the operation site. 
The undercovers moved to their assigned positions as lookouts for 
Philippi. That’s when he was taken into custody by law enforcement 
officers.

As he was arrested, the DOJ alleged he was at the rear of a vehicle with 
the drone powered up and the explosive device was armed and located next 
to the drone. Philippi is charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass 
destruction and attempted destruction of an energy facility. If convicted, 
he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

https://www.wsmv.com/2024/11/04/man-accused-attempting-use-weapon-mass-
destruction-destroy-nashville-energy-facility-doj-says/