Security News > 2021 > April > Texan's alleged Amazon bombing effort fizzles: Militia man wanted to take out 'about 70 per cent of the internet'

The US Justice Department on Friday announced the arrest of Seth Aaron Pendley, 28, for allegedly planning to blow up a single Amazon data center in Ashburn, Virginia, which he thought would knock out around 70 per cent of the internet.

The tipser who turned Pendley in is said to have provided authorities with the poster's email address, which was registered by Pendley.

The Justice Department said Pendley began using encrypted messaging app Signal in January to communicate with another confidential source.

This person told the FBI that Pendley allegedly said he planned to use C-4 explosives to attack a major company's data center in an effort to "Kill about 70 per cent of the internet."

The confidential source introduced Pendley to a supposed explosives supplier who was actually an undercover FBI agent.

The government claims it has recorded conversations of Pendley describing an attack on web servers he believed supported the FBI, CIA, and other federal agencies.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/04/09/amazon_bombing_plot/