Police have thwarted an 18-year-old New Jersey man’s sinister plot to wipe out a PSE&G substation and impact the power grid.
Andrew Tahistov began communicating online with the undercover agent in January. According to federal investigatorsAn East Brunswick man is accused of “soliciting another person to vandalize energy facilities” in North Brunswick and New Brunswick “to further white supremacist ideology.”
Investigators allege that Tahistov sought weapons advice from undercover agents online and expressed interest in traveling abroad for paramilitary-style training.
Authorities say Tahistov outlined plans to destroy PSE&G’s power infrastructure over a seven-month period.
Investigators said the suspect also encouraged violence against different ethnic and religious communities, made references to Adolf Hitler and praised mass shooters.
Takistov was arrested on Wednesday at Newark Liberty International Airport. “We arrested him on suspicion of soliciting individuals to destroy an electrical substation in the United States in order to further his white supremacist ideology,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
“I want to thank the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force for their extraordinary work in thwarting this dangerous plot.”
Tahistov allegedly took undercover agents to two electricity substations on two occasions, in June and July, where they discussed how to carry out attacks on the substations.
He asked the officers to take photos of the substation and indicated he wanted to send the photos to a friend in Russia.
“We allege that Takhistov, who was just 18 years old, was planning to travel abroad to learn from Russians fighting in Ukraine how to sabotage power grids and other critical infrastructure. His alleged conversations and planned actions… “These incidents are horrifying and inspired by racially motivated violent extremism,” said FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy.
Tahistov is charged with soliciting others to commit a crime.
He remains in police custody after his court appearance on Friday. No information about his arraignment was available.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.
