Several power substations were damaged and taken offline by gunfire knocking out power to 40,000 residents in Moore County, NC. Gun stores were robbed. A drag show was cancelled. A local extremist implied that's why the power was cut.
A thread: 🧵
thepilot.com/news/substatio…
It has been confirmed by local law enforcement that at least two power substations were damaged by gunfire. A gate in front of one of the power substation was destroyed. Power outages began shortly after 7pm.
Explosions were heard throughout Carthage, NC around 9:42pm. At 10:30pm, law enforcement began swarming around gun stores and a local Walmart after reports of "looting." Unclear how many guns or gun stores were robbed.
Emily Rainey, a local extremist who allegedly participated in the January 6th insurrection posted this.
Emily Rainey then claimed law enforcement arrived at her home and questioned her. Likely for posting the prior posts stating to know why. Unclear if she has any actual knowledge or connection to the perpetrators.
Extremists around the country began celebrating and endorsing the attack on power substations as it resulted in the cancellation of the drag event. Regardless of the motivations of the perpetrators, this is how it was being perceived by extremists.
In the days leading up to the event, organizers of the drag event received death threats but vowed to continue on regardless. Proud Boys and other extremist groups threatened to protest and disrupt the event. fayobserver.com/story/news/202…
It has not been confirmed by officials or law enforcement that the two were explicitly connected. However, the timing is likely not a coincidence. Additionally, gun stores being targeted shortly after the power went down indicates a high level of coordination.
Coordinated attacks on infrastructure and the robbery of gun stores is a pattern typical of highly coordinated militias. This is a terrifying escalation in the tactics of extremists if proven to be the case. The chaos from the power outage is a perfect cover for all of this.
Even if the primary goal was not the drag show, the high level of media attention and threats were certainly not unnoticed by the perpetrators. It would've been a perfect opportunity to draw away attention and serve as a distraction while also dirupting the events.
It remains to be seen what is confirmed over the coming days but I would not be surprised to see FBI involved. DHS has been warning for years about infrastructure attacks. It's an insurgency tactic that is likely to increase in usage by extremists.
cbsnews.com/news/domestic-…
Regardless of the motivations of the perpetrators, it is factually true that a drag show that was targeted by extremists with death threats in the days leading up to the event. The drag show was disrupted by power loss resulting from power substations being attacked with gunfire.
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