A Neo-Nazi Duo Planned to Attack the Baltimore Electric Grid and ‘Destroy the City,’ FBI Says

A neo - national socialist leader and a Maryland charwoman planned to attack electrical substations , which form the user interface between the distribution grid and transmission systems , around Baltimore in an attempt to permanently “ lay this urban center to blow , ” according to the FBI .

U.S. Attorney Erek Barron say in a instruction that an attack like the one allegedly plot by Clendaniel and Russell put lives on the line .

“ This alleged planned fire threatened lives and would have leave thousands of Marylander in the inhuman and dark , ” Barron pointed out . “ We are joined and trust to using every legal mean value necessary to cut off violence , include hate - fueled attack . ”

Accused Maryland woman Sarah Beth Clendaniel.

Accused Maryland woman Sarah Beth Clendaniel.Screenshot:U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

In the criminal charge , Clendaniel tell an FBI informant in January that she was a felon and had a last illness related to her kidneys . Given that she only had a few calendar month left to live , Clendaniel tell that she wanted to “ accomplish something worthwhile ” before she die , which apparently included attack five substation in one mean solar day within the next calendar month .

“ It would in all likelihood permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully , ” she said .

When it comes to Russell , authorities have lie with about the 27 - year - old ’s fixation with electric infrastructure since at least May 2017 , when his former roommate Devon Arthurs murder their two other roomie ( Russell was not harmed ) . At the sentence , Arthurs tell police force enforcement agents that he and his roomie were plan to attack index lines and a atomic index flora in Florida . During a search , policefound several explosive and chemicalsused to make homemade explosives . Russell admitted that the explosive and chemical substance belonged to him and spent five years in prison .

Ankercompact

harmonise to the FBI , Clendaniel and Russell have maintained a human relationship since 2018 , when they wrote to each other while they were in prison at dissimilar facilities . The pair has talked about hold kids together .

In a manifesto obtained by the FBI , Clendaniel makes references to Ted Kaczynski , the mail hoagy known as the Unabomber , and Adolf Hitler . She lament that she does n’t have a passel of experience with firearms , but states that she hop to practice once she mother her permit .

“ What a shame I do n’t have a rifle yet . This storm would be the gross clock time to strike some substations and knock out magnate , ” Clendaniel wrote .

Ms 0528 Jocasta Vision Quest