Drone at Pennsylvania electric substation was first to 'specifically target energy infrastructure,'

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: ABC News, via CNN and KAKE

Drone at Pennsylvania electric substation was first to 'specifically target energy infrastructure,' according to federal law enforcement bulletin

48 mins ago
Updated: 17 mins ago

By Sean Lyngaas, CNN

A drone that crashed near a Pennsylvania power substation last year was likely meant to damage or disrupt the electric equipment, according to a federal law enforcement bulletin obtained by CNN.

The July 2020 incident is the first known case of a "modified unmanned aircraft system likely being used in the United States to specifically target energy infrastructure," states the October 28 memo from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center. That statement is based on a review of drone incidents dating back to 2017.

No damage was done to the electricity supply or equipment, according to the memo. It is still unclear who was responsible for operating the drone that crashed on a rooftop near the unidentified substation.

Federal officials say they are distributing the intelligence bulletin now to state and local officials to raise awareness about the incident and the general threat of drones to critical infrastructure.

ABC News was first to report on the intelligence bulletin. (1)

Whoever modified the drone likely tried to create a "short circuit to cause damage to transformers or distribution lines, based on the design and recovery location," the intelligence memo says. The drone "appeared to be heavily worn, indicating it was flown previously and was modified for this single flight."

{snip}

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

(1) https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/intelligence-bulletin-reveals-potential-plot-disrupt-us-electrical-80961140

Read more: https://www.kake.com/story/45121724/drone-at-pennsylvania-electric-substation-was-first-to-specifically-target-energy-infrastructure-according-to-federal-law-enforcement-bulletin

---

https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/intelligence-bulletin-reveals-potential-plot-disrupt-us-electrical-80961140

Intelligence bulletin reveals potential plot to disrupt US electrical grid
The July 2020 incident did not lead to any disruptions, but officials believe a drone was likely being used to try to deliberately damage U.S. infrastructure.

[stopdiggin]

1. these things present SO many issues

security (on multiple levels), privacy, public safety (think airports, concerts, sports events ..), ecological and natural damage/threat - and on, and on. With complete anonymity and repercussion (we have nothing in the way of identifying owners, operators). And - it's not just that law enforcement and public officials are well behind the curve with this - it's that to this point we have refused to even recognize or entertain the idea that this is an issue that needs address.

And you can be quite sure that this is not something that has escaped the notice of nefarious forces (state, religious, political, terror), plus the lunatic crackpot fringe. The only thing even remotely surprising about the above incident - is that it didn't happen 5 or 10 years ago!

[LiberatedUSA]

2. +Million

The first time someone successfully uses a drone anyone with some extra cash can get, in a bombing, will start a stampede between new laws and copycats.

[getagrip_already]

3. I've seen youtube segments on arming them and rigging them to drop "fruit"

Nowadays they are just paintball or nerf guns, but before youtube cracked down people were using 9mm handguns and machine pistols.

It didn't take a very large or expensive drone to gun someone down or drop an explosive on them.

crickets.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. What's worse

is that they were breathlessly "promoted" as something ground-breaking for people who were into model planes, but now complete with cameras.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. One more reason to decentralize the power grid.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. The sad thing is

many substations and distribution stations, especially in and around the urban and suburban areas (other than in the city centers where they are all underground), are all out in the open with simple fencing around them. And where some of them are situated, it's not just drones that can get them.

From this past September here in the Philly area (in Montgomery County) after TS Ida remnants came through -

Link to tweet

TEXT

PECO
@PECOconnect
We are experiencing substantial flooding at our Barbados substation along the Schuylkill River.

Remember: 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐱. Downed lines can be hidden in standing water. Stay out of the flood waters. #Ida
Image
Image
Image
Image
10:25 AM · Sep 2, 2021

Hell, all you need to do is have a big tree branch fall on some wires and that can take out several poles, transformers, and their wires. Happens every severe storm.

[aggiesal]

6. Unfortunately, incidents like this will cause governments ...

at all levels to pass laws that make drones no longer toys and force those who have them to register them with the FAA, so that if one does hit an infrastructure facility, they'll know who to go after.

Lots of.logistic difficulties.

[2naSalit]

8. Some kind of technology...

Used for cell phones and tracking them should be included in these things so they can be traced back. Or maybe serial numbers like are used on guns. I can't imagine that would be so hard to do.

[berni_mccoy]

11. Just put guns on them. The laws will be nixed

Can’t violate the 2nd amendment ya know. I have a right to keep and bear arms even if they are on an automated drone. You know, for hunting…

[Ford_Prefect]

7. Y'all Qeadea strikes again!!! Those Q-family warriors have iniated contact.

Could be it's time to round them up? ...Or at least gag the head of the hydra?

[yaesu]

9. Sounds like amateurs, either kids messing around or a rw nutjob who's only electric experience is

plugging in his iPhone.

[Deminpenn]

12. This

nt

[Bayard]

13. The implications are pretty scary

Not only for taking out infrastructure, but for other things, like assassinations. Oh wait.....they're already doing that.

[Marcuse]

14. Indeed.