Terrorist Charged After Destroying Electrical Grid In Las Vegas
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Mohammad Mesmarian is facing charges of terrorism after law enforcement captured him after he rammed his car into a solar energy plant in Las Vegas and set his vehicle on fire disabling the facility Tuesday.
The attack on Las Vegas’ electrical infrastructure took place at the Invenergy solar plant north of U.S. Route 93 near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway according to KLAS-TV. The 34-year-old Mesmarian plowed his vehicle through the perimeter fence after employees had already left for the day according to police but waited until approximately midnight before he finally set the car on fire, the local outlet reported citing law enforcement documents.
The car used in the attack was reportedly a Toyota Camry registered in Idaho, according to The Street.
According to investigators, Mesmarian pulled up a chair and sat for about fifteen minutes to watch the vehicle and adjacent equipment burn before walking away.
KLAS-TV also revealed that police believe Mesmarian siphoned gasoline from the car and poured it on wires at the transformer. Responding officers located the remains of an iPhone connected to Mesmarian in the car along with two laptop computers.
Las Vegas Metro Police tracked the suspect to a campground located near Lake Mead near Boulder City approximately 30 miles from the scene of the attack.
“Mesmarian clarified he burned the Toyota Camry a couple of days ago,” police told KLAS-TV.
“Mesmarian stayed he burned the vehicle at a Tesla solar plant and did it ‘for the future.’”
An Invenergy spokesman told the outlet, “Following an incident at the Mega Solar Array facility, on-site personnel immediately notified authorities and shut down the plant’s operations as a precaution in accordance with industry-standard safety protocols.”
Adding, “No one was injured, and we are currently restoring the facility’s full operations.” An employee told reporters that the fire caused “major damage” and estimated that it could take up to two years for replacement parts to arrive. The damaged generation unit has remained shut down after the fire and according to police the plant is not presently producing electricity KLAS-TV reported citing police sources.
Man faces terror charge for damaging power plant outside Las Vegas
Mohammad Mesmarian, 34, rammed his car through the gate of a solar power generation plant outside Las Vegas on Wednesday and set his car on fire, intending to damage a massive transformerhttps://t.co/Qn4D29WRM8
Judge Danial Westmeyer denied Mesmarian bail and court officials told reporters that he was disruptive prior to his court appearance on Friday. He did not appear at his hearing and is due in court Tuesday.
ZeroHedge reports that he is being charged with “committing an act of terrorism, first-degree arson, third-degree arson, destroying or injuring real or personal property of another, and escape by a felony prisoner.”
The Mega Solar Array facility operated by Invenergy served several MGM properties located in Las Vegas.
Mohammad Mesmarian is facing charges of terrorism after law enforcement captured him after he rammed his car into a solar energy plant in Las Vegas and set his vehicle on fire disabling the facility Tuesday.
The attack on Las Vegas’ electrical infrastructure took place at the Invenergy solar plant north of U.S. Route 93 near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway according to KLAS-TV. The 34-year-old Mesmarian plowed his vehicle through the perimeter fence after employees had already left for the day according to police but waited until approximately midnight before he finally set the car on fire, the local outlet reported citing law enforcement documents.
The car used in the attack was reportedly a Toyota Camry registered in Idaho, according to The Street.
According to investigators, Mesmarian pulled up a chair and sat for about fifteen minutes to watch the vehicle and adjacent equipment burn before walking away.
KLAS-TV also revealed that police believe Mesmarian siphoned gasoline from the car and poured it on wires at the transformer. Responding officers located the remains of an iPhone connected to Mesmarian in the car along with two laptop computers.
Las Vegas Metro Police tracked the suspect to a campground located near Lake Mead near Boulder City approximately 30 miles from the scene of the attack.
An Invenergy spokesman told the outlet, “Following an incident at the Mega Solar Array facility, on-site personnel immediately notified authorities and shut down the plant’s operations as a precaution in accordance with industry-standard safety protocols.”
Adding, “No one was injured, and we are currently restoring the facility’s full operations.” An employee told reporters that the fire caused “major damage” and estimated that it could take up to two years for replacement parts to arrive. The damaged generation unit has remained shut down after the fire and according to police the plant is not presently producing electricity KLAS-TV reported citing police sources.
Judge Danial Westmeyer denied Mesmarian bail and court officials told reporters that he was disruptive prior to his court appearance on Friday. He did not appear at his hearing and is due in court Tuesday.
ZeroHedge reports that he is being charged with “committing an act of terrorism, first-degree arson, third-degree arson, destroying or injuring real or personal property of another, and escape by a felony prisoner.”
The Mega Solar Array facility operated by Invenergy served several MGM properties located in Las Vegas.