In a significant development, law enforcement authorities have successfully foiled a sinister plot devised by an 18-year-old New Jersey man to target PSE&G substations, thereby jeopardizing the power grid. Andrew Takhistov, a resident of East Brunswick, was apprehended at Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday while allegedly en route to Ukraine to join the Russian Volunteer Corps. Federal investigators revealed that Takhistov had been engaging in online communications with an undercover officer since January, during which he expressed his white supremacist ideology and solicited assistance in destroying energy facilities.
According to authorities, Takhistov sought advice on weapons and demonstrated an interest in receiving paramilitary-style training overseas. Over a span of seven months, he meticulously outlined his plans to sabotage PSE&G’s electrical infrastructure, while also promoting violence against various ethnic and religious communities. Investigators further allege that Takhistov made references to Adolf Hitler and praised mass shooters, indicating his dangerous mindset.
During the course of their investigation, law enforcement officials assert that Takhistov took the undercover officer to two separate electrical substations in June and July, discussing the methods to carry out an attack. He even requested the officer to capture photographs of the substations, intending to share them with an associate in Russia. The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force are credited for their exceptional work in disrupting this perilous plot.
US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed gratitude towards the law enforcement agencies involved, emphasizing the significance of their intervention. FBI – Newark Special Agent-in-Charge James E. Dennehy described Takhistov’s alleged conversations and planned actions as chilling, driven by racially motivated violent extremism. The 18-year-old suspect has been charged with soliciting another individual to engage in criminal conduct.
Takhistov appeared in court on Friday and is currently in police custody. Plea information is currently unavailable. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $125,000.
1 Response
This is absolutely outrageous! How can an 18-year-old have such malicious intentions and attempt to disrupt the power grid? It’s terrifying to think about the potential consequences if this plot had succeeded. The fact that law enforcement was able to intervene and prevent this disaster is commendable, but it also raises concerns about the security of our critical infrastructure.
The power grid is the backbone of our society, providing electricity to homes, hospitals, businesses, and essential services. Any attempt to tamper with it not