The co-founder of the American neo-Nazi organization and his associate were arrested in the United States after they were accused of plotting an attack on power plants in Baltimore.

Brandon Russell, 27, was arrested by the Federal Police (FBI) in Florida, and Sarah Clindaniel, 34, was arrested in Maryland. They are being prosecuted for “conspiracy to attack energy infrastructure” a charge that carries a 20-year prison term.

Russell is well known among the American far right: in 2015, he announced the founding of the Atomwaffen Detachment, a neo-Nazi group that advocates the use of violence to “destroy society,” according to the civilian police website. the Southern Poverty Law Center, a human rights group that tracks “hate groups” in the US.

In 2017, his roommate committed a double murder. During a search of their home, the police found explosives belonging to Brandon Russell, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

While incarcerated, he began an online chat with Sarah Kleindaniel, who was also imprisoned for assault with a machete in a convenience store. They kept in touch and discussed, among other things, the possibility of “having kids together” or starting a “guerilla war,” according to the indictment.

According to the document, in June 2022, Russell began planning a series of attacks on power facilities to cause “delivered failures” and posted many of his designs and photographs of transformers.

Clinton said she was ready to launch terrorist attacks and “completely destroy” Baltimore, where the majority of African Americans live. Clintoniel has a terminal illness and said she “wanted to do something great” before her death.

The police were alerted by an informant and arrested them before they could carry out their plan.

About a year ago, US authorities warned that far-right groups were planning targeted attacks on energy infrastructure. In recent months, transformers have been damaged in Ohio, North Carolina and suburban Seattle.

RES-EMP source