A Columbia man's supposed plot to blow up part of Nashville's energy grid was intercepted and stopped by FBI agents who had disguised themselves as his co-conspirators, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday afternoon.
Skyler Philippi, 24, was arrested on Nov. 2 and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy an energy facility, court records show. If he is convicted, Philippi faces the possibility of life in prison.
The DOJ, through the FBI informants who communicated with Philippi for months, outlined the rough details of Philippi's alleged plan, which it said was motivated by racial hatred. According to the DOJ, Philippi was connected with several white-supremacist groups.
Prosecutors said that Philippi, whom extremist researchers have been aware of since at least January, told an informant that he wanted to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA in Columbia.