NC - State of Emergency Declared in Moore County - Criminal Attack on Power Substations - 45K W/O Power

[scapa]

And in all of the substation attacks in 2022, there were zero arrests. Why? Are there really no cameras at these places?

It's very odd. I'd expect a pretty comprehensive security system, although perhaps not at the distances reachable by a rifle.

Still, there seems to be plenty of online chatter by and between members of groups under suspicion that might provide leads. Is it maybe a question of the will locally to solve these cases?

 

[Hoosgirl]

In lieu of any video at the substations (I believe LE did collect some at nearby businesses) I am holding out hope for the cell phone subpoenas. Can't be too many in the vicinity at that specific time, and hopefully the perp(s) were stupid enough to have phones on them.

 

[worm]

It's very odd. I'd expect a pretty comprehensive security system, although perhaps not at the distances reachable by a rifle.

Still, there seems to be plenty of online chatter by and between members of groups under suspicion that might provide leads. Is it maybe a question of the will locally to solve these cases?

I don’t know about this particular station but the nuclear plants here in the Carolinas have strict security. I hope.

 

[AC4RD]

DHS warns of terror threats to LGBTQ, Jewish, migrant communities

Americans motivated by violent ideologies pose a “persistent and lethal threat,” a senior DHS official said in a briefing about a new Terrorism Advisory System bulletin.

www.nbcnews.com

There seems to be a lot of concern that the power-station attacks are some sort of preparation or rehearsal for domestic terrorism. How in the world did the USA get so full of anger that people want to cripple the infrastructure and cause chaos?

 

[Dre]

DHS warns of terror threats to LGBTQ, Jewish, migrant communities

Americans motivated by violent ideologies pose a “persistent and lethal threat,” a senior DHS official said in a briefing about a new Terrorism Advisory System bulletin.

www.nbcnews.com

There seems to be a lot of concern that the power-station attacks are some sort of preparation or rehearsal for domestic terrorism. How in the world did the USA get so full of anger that people want to cripple the infrastructure and cause chaos?

hatred is potently addictive, and I think it might feed itself too!
Add a love of guns and perhaps a grievance with the government… it’s a lot of loud people stuck online in these echo chambers, bonding over and validating extreme and passionate views (against others)
Moo

 

[worm]

DHS warns of terror threats to LGBTQ, Jewish, migrant communities

Americans motivated by violent ideologies pose a “persistent and lethal threat,” a senior DHS official said in a briefing about a new Terrorism Advisory System bulletin.

www.nbcnews.com

There seems to be a lot of concern that the power-station attacks are some sort of preparation or rehearsal for domestic terrorism. How in the world did the USA get so full of anger that people want to cripple the infrastructure and cause chaos?

These types have been barking for decades but we have the net now. Eric Rulolph, guy that bombed the 96 Olympics, was influenced heavily by printed newsletters that these groups put out. It can inspire violence but they never seem to recruit the number of nuts they need to fulfill their goals.

 

[vls12345]

hatred is potently addictive, and I think it might feed itself too!
Add a love of guns and perhaps a grievance with the government… it’s a lot of loud people stuck online in these echo chambers, bonding over and validating extreme and passionate views (against others)
Moo

Social media contributes a lot to this (as you said, "...people stuck online in these echo chambers..."):

'Carol's Journey': What Facebook knew about how it radicalized users

Internal documents suggest Facebook has long known its algorithms and recommendation systems push some users to extremes.

www.nbcnews.com

And, this type of stuff is related to what the Cambridge Analytica scandal was all about:

Cambridge Analytica - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If you want to read more about grid security, check some of the articles on Utility Dive:

Grid Security & Reliability | Utility Dive

Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.

www.utilitydive.com

An article that (I think) was posted earlier in the thread but I'll repost:

After substation attacks, FERC orders NERC to consider increasing grid security requirements

“Is there something more sinister going on? Are people trying to take part of the grid out and have people lose power on purpose? And for what reason?” FERC Chair Richard Glick asked about an apparent rise in attacks on grid equipment.

www.utilitydive.com

 

[Hoosgirl]

Really great, in-depth summary by the local paper. Way too much to snip, I encourage everyone to give it a read!

Substation Attacks: Our 2022 Newsmaker of the Year

December 3, 2022 appeared to be just another small town Saturday night — until twin gunfire attacks on electrical transmission substations in Carthage and West End upended life in Moore

www.thepilot.com

 

[Puzzles8]

DHS warns of terror threats to LGBTQ, Jewish, migrant communities

Americans motivated by violent ideologies pose a “persistent and lethal threat,” a senior DHS official said in a briefing about a new Terrorism Advisory System bulletin.

www.nbcnews.com

There seems to be a lot of concern that the power-station attacks are some sort of preparation or rehearsal for domestic terrorism. How in the world did the USA get so full of anger that people want to cripple the infrastructure and cause chaos?

Domestic Terrorism is one thing, but the risks of International Terrorism are quite another. I feel the greatest long term risk of these recent attacks is exposing the vulnerability of our own Nation's electrical grid.

AT&T has their major control centers in large concrete windowless buildings with extensive security. I do hope our Nation makes this an immediate priority and starts to protect our electrical grids with the same vigor.

JMO

 

[Curious_in_NC]

I don’t know about this particular station but the nuclear plants here in the Carolinas have strict security. I hope.

I think Shearon Harris, near the Triangle, definitely does. There's at least two other plants in NC plus a research scale reactor at NC State. Don't know about those. There's another 3 or 4 plants in SC.

 

[Hoosgirl]

Christmas day substation attacks in Washington state have resulted in a quick resolution. In this case, the attacks were spread over 4 stations with a significant gap in time, and cell records indicated only 2 phones in common to all. There was also surveillance video of vehicle and suspect which helped. Suspect stated post-Miranda that purpose of outages was to rob a cash register at a business. Federally charged. You can read more here: https://t.co/D0eftpM9td

Hoping for a resolution in Moore County as well!

 

[worm]

Christmas day substation attacks in Washington state have resulted in a quick resolution. In this case, the attacks were spread over 4 stations with a significant gap in time, and cell records indicated only 2 phones in common to all. There was also surveillance video of vehicle and suspect which helped. Suspect stated post-Miranda that purpose of outages was to rob a cash register at a business. Federally charged. You can read more here: https://t.co/D0eftpM9td

Hoping for a resolution in Moore County as well!

I guess unplugging or flipping a breaker to the register wouldn’t do it?

 

[PriorTheCreator]

The DOJ specified who

Three Men Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to a Plot to Attack Power Grids in the United States
Three men pleaded guilty today to crimes related to a scheme to attack power grids in the United States in furtherance of white supremacist ideology.

According to court documents, Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Indiana, and of Katy, Texas; and Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. The charge and plea agreements indicate that the defendants knew and intended that the material support they conspired to provide would be used to prepare for and carry out the federal offense of destroying energy facilities.

 

[cvaldez1975]

I guess unplugging or flipping a breaker to the register wouldn’t do it?

i think they are full of it. arent gonna snitch.

 

[worm]

I just seen a headline in passing that a power plant in Statesville NC had damage from a gunfire incident but no outage.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Randolph County substation damaged by gunfire weeks after similar attack in Moore County

RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — An EnergyUnited substation was damaged by gunfire on Tuesday morning, according to a statement released by EnergyUnited. Officials with the Randolph County Sher…

myfox8.com

 

[sds71]

'It would lay this city to waste:' Catonsville woman conspired with neo-Nazi leader to destroy Baltimore power grid, FBI says

The FBI said it views the suspects as "racially or ethnically motivated extremists."

www.cbsnews.com

A Catonsville woman and a Florida man with neo-Nazi ties have been arrested and charged with conspiring to attack Baltimore's power grid, the FBI and local officials announced Monday.

 

[dotr]

Woman plotted to destroy energy substations with neo-Nazi leader, FBI says

Sarah Beth Clendaniel of Catonsville was arrested by the FBI for allegedly planning to destroy energy substations in the Baltimore area and “lay this city to waste.”

www.thebaltimorebanner.com

 

[DrQ]

IMHO declared as an act of terrorism or not it seems like a domestic terrorist act to me. Some times descriptions of events are selective depending on the "spin" of the report. Not sure how this will go. The fact that the FBI is involved indicates a Federal and state connection. Along with many other areas, FBI works terrorism. Why else would they be there?

 

[steeltowngirl]

Two People Arrested For Plotting 'Racially Motivated' Attack on Baltimore Power Grid

The pair, one a known neo-Nazi leader, aimed to "completely destroy this whole city," according to the criminal complaint.

www.nbcwashington.com

Attacks on power grids plunged thousands of Americans into darkness, as authorities worry neo-Nazis are targeting critical infrastructure

Power grids from California to North Carolina have come under attack, concerning authorities that extremists are targeting critical US infrastructure.

www.businessinsider.com