A new warning has been issued regarding a potential attack on the electrical grid in the northeast United States. A newly-released intelligence bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reveals a plot involving the use of a drone to disrupt an electrical grid in Pennsylvania in July 2020.

The drone, which crashed atop a building near a Pennsylvania power substation last year, was likely intended to disrupt operations by creating a short circuit to damage transformers, according to the memo from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center.

The drone had a thick copper wire attached to it. The memo was based on a review of drone incidents dating back to 2017. A concern is the illicit use of drones over energy infrastructure and other potential targets are growing.


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Drones are very difficult to detect or even to defend against. Officials believe it’s the first time a drone was used to deliberately damage the U.S. energy structure. The person responsible removed the camera, memory card, and all markings to hide their identity. READ MORE