Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
Five electricity substations in Oregon and Washington are attacked just days after two in North Carolina were shot up causing widespread power outages
- The FBI said at least five power stations in the Pacific Northwest were targeted
- The report arrives days after a significant outage caused by a targeted substation attack left Moore County, North Carolina without power
- The Department of Homeland Security warned earlier this year that domestic extremists have been developing plans to target the US power grid since 2020
- Yet more reports of gunfire this time near a South Carolina hydro station were reported Wednesday night
By Sophie Mann For Dailymail.Com
Published: 01:19 EST, 8 December 2022 | Updated: 08:50 EST, 8 December 2022
At least five attacks at electricity substations in the Pacific Northwest have been reported to the FBI in recent weeks.
The incidents came to light via a federal memo following a deliberate attack last week in Moore County, North Carolina, that left tens of thousands of people without power for days as seasonal temperatures fall.
In Washington state and Oregon, spokespeople for several energy companies - Puget Sound Energy, the Cowlitz County Public Utilities District and Bonneville Power Administration - confirmed the attacks occurred in November.
A federal law enforcement memo revealed that the Pacific Northwest substations have described attacks using 'handtools, arson, firearms, and metal chains possibly in response to an online call for attacks on critical infrastructure.'
'In recent attacks, criminal actors bypassed security fences by cutting the fence links, lighting nearby fires, shooting equipment from a distance or throwing objects over the fence and on to equipment,' read the memo.
Power stations in a number of US states have been threatened or targeted for attacks in recent weeks, prompting American law enforcement to warn citizens about a need to secure the power grid
A PSE transformer was attacked in Portland, Oregon, last month, according to a recent federal memo
Washington state Governor Jay Inslee's office said they are 'aware of increased threats to our utilities and are monitoring threat activity'
A spokesperson for BPA, Douglas Johnson, said the company suffered a 'deliberate physical attack' at a Clackamas, Oregon substation over Thanksgiving and that fencing and equipment were damaged.
He added that the company is 'actively cooperating with the FBI on this incident and has encouraged other utilities throughout the region to increase their vigilance and report any suspicious or similar activity to law enforcement.'
He did not offer specific details about the damage to the substation's equipment, only that the cost of its repair would be passed on to customers of the public utility.
The FBI would not confirm or deny that it is investigating the attacks, though the companies said they are cooperating with a federal investigation.
Gerald Tracy, the media engagement program manager at Puget Sound Energy said that he was unable to 'comment on the incidents because they are both an ongoing investigation involving the FBI.'
Two PSE substations were attacked in late November, though it is unknown which ones or to what extent they were damaged.
And two Cowlitz County Public Utility District substations in Washington sustained vandalism in November. A spokesperson for Governor Jay Inslee said the office is 'aware of increased threats to our utilities and are monitoring threat activity in our support and coordination role with federal and local governments and individual utilities.'
In North Carolina, tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Moore County remained without power through Tuesday and schools will remain closed through Thursday.
Energy officials said they believe the power should be restored by midnight on Wednesday, pushing up the estimate from Thursday.
At their peak, the outages affected around 45,000 homes, causing residents to lose heat and schools to close. Duke Energy has now completed repairs and restored power to all but a fraction of those who lost electricity.
One person is known to have died at their home, which was without power at the time, but the cause of death has not yet been linked to the outage.
Gunfire on Saturday night caused significant damage to two substations. The FBI is now assisting with the investigation for which no motive has yet been identified.
The power went out over the weekend during the Downtown Divas drag show at the Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines about an hour into the performance. Prior to the show, a number of protesters and counter-protesters had gathered to demonstrate in front of the theatre.
Organizers of the drag show revealed that right-wing activists had tried to shut down the event for weeks leading up to it. In response to the threats, extra security was hired for the Saturday event.
Governor Cooper said on Monday that investigators are continuing to assess every possible motive in an attempt to find the perpetrators, including that the targeted attack may be tied to the drag show.
A worker inspects one of three 'bullet holes' that crippled the North Carolina substation
A Duke Energy employee works to repair the damage at the Moore County substation
Gerardo Anicero is pictured warming himself in front of a makeshift fire as he watches Duke Energy personnel work to restore power at a crippled electrical substation as temperatures dip below freezing in Moore County
On Wednesday night, Duke Energy reported that it had been made aware of yet more gunshots that occurred near the Wateree Hydro Station in Kershaw County, South Carolina.
'No individuals were harmed. There are no outages reported. There is no known property damage at this time. We are working closely with the FBI on this issue,' read the statement in part.
The US Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis warned early this year that domestic extremists 'have developed credible, specific plans to attack electricity infrastructure since at least 2020.'
Though experts warn that it would be difficult to shut down a significant portion of the power grid, a the recent attack in North Carolina showcased how tough it can be for a community to make do without power for the better part of a week.
Energy experts have expressed the real need to secure the country's power grid, especially as domestic terrorist's become further emboldened to toy with the country's public utilities.
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Read more:
- www.seattletimes...
MORE HERE: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11515081/Authorities-confirm-five-attacks-electricity-substations-Washington-Oregon-month.html
Last edited by PurpleSkyz on Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:13 pm; edited 1 time in total
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