A Maryland woman conspired with a Florida neo-Nazi leader to carry out an attack on a number of electrical substations in the Baltimore area, according to The Guardian.
Sarah Beth Clendaniel of Baltimore county and Florida resident Brandon Russell were arrested on charges of plotting to disable the power grid by shooting out substations in a sniper-style attack.
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It’s alleged Clendaniel and Russell wanted to “completely destroy” the city, according to the criminal complaint. The complaint also included a photo of a woman authorities identified as Clendaniel wearing tactical gear that bore a swastika and holding a rifle.
Russell reportedly has a long history of ties to racist groups and Nazi beliefs, as well as past plans to attack US infrastructure systems.
US attorney Erek Barron praised investigators for disrupting hate-fuelled violence. Authorities declined to specify how the planned attack was meant to fulfill a racist motive but suggested the defendants wanted to bring attention to their cause.
In recent months, concerns about protecting the country’s power grid have been heightened by attacks, or threatened attacks.
In Washington state, two men were recently arrested lon charges that they vandalised substations weeks earlier in attacks that left thousands without power around Christmas time.
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A gunfire attack in December on substations in central North Carolina caused power outages affecting tens of thousands of customers. Law enforcement officials have said the shooting was targeted, though no arrests have been made.
Lawmakers there have proposed legislation to toughen penalties for intentionally damaging utility equipment.
