Maryland woman with white supremacist ties arrested in alleged plot to attack Baltimore power grid

In December 2022, the attacks on a power substation in North Carolina underscored the vulnerability of power grids in the United States — grids that, according to law enforcement, are a prime target of far-right extremist and white supremacist groups. Now, according to the Associated Press, a Maryland woman is facing federal charges for her alleged role in a plot to attack a power grid in the Baltimore area.

On Monday, February 6, AP reports, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of Maryland resident Sarah Beth Clendaniel.

AP explains, “The arrest of Sarah Beth Clendaniel of Baltimore County was the latest in a series across the country as authorities warn that electrical infrastructure could be a vulnerable target for domestic terrorists. It wasn’t immediately clear on Monday whether she had a lawyer to speak on her behalf.”

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Authorities, according to AP, allege that Clendaniel “conspired with Brandon Russell, recently arrested in Florida, to disable the power grid by shooting out substations via ‘sniper attacks,’ saying she wanted to ‘completely destroy this whole city,’ according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Monday. The complaint also included a photo of a woman authorities identified as Clendaniel wearing tactical gear that bore a swastika and holding a rifle.”

At a news conference on February 6, federal prosecutor Erek Barrond told reporters, “When we are united, hate cannot win.”

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Read the Associated Press’ full report at this link.