An 18-year-old from New Jersey was arrested for allegedly soliciting another individual to destroy an electrical substation in the state using Molotov cocktails or mylar balloons, according to the Department of Justice.
Andrew Takhistov, of East Brunswick, made his initial appearance in court on Thursday after he was arrested on Wednesday at Newark International Airport, where he was headed to Paris then Ukraine to fight Russia.
Mr. Takhistov’s posts on the platform included how he wanted to travel overseas and participate in paramilitary-style training, the document noted. He stated, “we need to arm up and train” and “people keep, we’ll fight later. There’s a [expletive] genocide against us, when is the better time to fight,” according to the complaint.
Mr. Takhistov frequently posted on racially/ethnically motivated extremist-aligned channels, and encouraged violence against various ethnic and religious communities, including black and Jewish people, and praised mass shooters, according to the complaint.
In January, Mr. Takhistov unknowingly began communicating with an undercover FBI agent, the agency said.
Specifically, Mr. Takhistov allegedly discussed how to damage electrical substations by using mylar balloons or Molotov cocktails, and explained how to make them. He told the undercover agent that, while he was in Ukraine, at least one attack had to be carried out, the complaint says.
In June and July of this year, Mr. Takhistov and the undercover agent drove to two electrical substations in New Jersey–North Brunswick and New Brunswick, according to the DOJ.
During these visits, Mr. Takhistov allegedly instructed the undercover employee on how to attack an electrical substation.
On July 7, a substation was chosen and Mr. Takhistov forwarded a message from another individual to the undercover agent showing a photo of the North Brunswick Substation, according to the DOJ.
“Your target is this [expletive] … yep you hit that…with a few Molotovs you’re good,” Mr. Takhistov allegedly wrote on the messaging platform.
Mr. Takhistov and the undercover agent also allegedly discussed strategies for terrorist attacks, including rocket and explosive attacks against synagogues.
The complaint states that Mr. Takhistov indicated that, if he could bring back supplies from Ukraine, he could carry out attacks to threaten the U.S. government.
Mr. Takhistov is charged with one count of soliciting another individual to engage in criminal conduct to destroy a public service enterprise group circuit breaker and substation. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $125,000 if convicted.
