KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A white supremacist is in custody after authorities said they thwarted his plans to destroy an energy facility in Middle Tennessee and brought him into custody. Skyler Philippi, 24, from Columbia, Tennessee, faces charges of trying to use a weapon of mass destruction and trying to destroy an energy facility.
A complaint said Philippi began talking about destroying an energy facility as part of his accelerationist ideology. This kind of ideology generally calls for widespread destabilization through the rapid growth of specific systems, or through violence.
The complaint outlines a conversation Philippi had with a confidential source, where he talked about how he thought attacking electricity substations could destabilize areas across the country and further his accelerationist beliefs. He also spoke with the source about his plans to derail a train in Middle Tennessee and asked for help getting a train de-railer, according to authorities.
Later, the complaint said Philippi told another person he had written a manifesto that discussed his desire to attack "high tax cities" and industrial areas. In that conversation, he also talked about getting into a shooting involving a Black person in Louisville and said he was previously affiliated with white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups: the Atomwaffen Division and the National Alliance.
The groups have targeted racial minorities, the Jewish community, the LGBTQ+ community, the government, journalists and infrastructure. His manifesto also included references to white supremacist literature.
Months later, Philippi told undercover agents that he studied previous power grid attacks conducted by accelerationists, including two attacks in North Carolina and an attack in California. He said people in those attacks used guns, and he instead wanted to use a drone with explosives.
Philippi told undercover agents he wanted to build a drone himself, to avoid law enforcement, and attach explosive material to it. He told the undercover agents that the parts would "cost around $150" and said he could "3D print the [drone] body for pennies." He asked the undercover agents to get the parts he needed to build it.
"I definitely want to hit Nashville, like one hundred percent, I want to get Nashville. I also know Louisville pretty god damn well, since I lived there. I spent about five months scouting out every single place [power station] and even coming up with a game plan to hit it as fast as I could. I had whole maps made, printed out on paper, to actually do that," the complaint said he told undercover agents.
The agents then introduced him to a third undercover agent who said he could provide explosives, while they drove out to surveil an energy facility. The third agent agreed to provide "poor man's C-4" and they later discussed making pipe bombs. Philippi later claimed to have bought explosive materials for the pipe bombs.
While surveilling the facilities, Philippi discussed renting a Prius to blend into a nearby neighborhood, where he planned to launch the drone. On the day of the planned attack, on Nov. 2, Philippi also participated in a "Nordic ritual" with undercover agents. As part of the ritual, they recited a Nordic prayer and discussed Odin.
At a hotel before the attack, an undercover agent asked Philippi what the attack meant to him and he responded, "this is where the New Age begins," according to the complaint. After eating a meal, they returned to the hotel and began planning for the attack.
The undercover agents had brought inactive C-4 and Philippi read instructions on using it, the complaint said. They then drove to the site and Phillipi began preparing the drone. He was taken into custody while preparing it.
"Philippi was prepared to attach the explosives to the drone when he was arrested," the complaint said. "Philippi attempted to use a weapon of mass destruction to destroy an energy facility that provides electricity to hundreds of businesses, thereby affecting interstate commerce."
If convicted, Philippi faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.