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Metcalf Sniper Attack Thread
Metcalf Sniper Attack Thread
On April 16 2013, a team of gunmen opened fire on the PG&E Metcalf substation in Northern California.
This is very notable for a myriad of reasons which we will dive into in this thread.
The shooters have not been apprehended, and still remain at large.
Motives remain unknown
This is very notable for a myriad of reasons which we will dive into in this thread.
The shooters have not been apprehended, and still remain at large.
Motives remain unknown
Timeline is as follows:
00:58 : Fiber optic lines to the substation and surrounding areas are cut not far off of US Route 101. This takes down internet and phone service to the substation.
01:07 : first reports of service outages begin to come in.
00:58 : Fiber optic lines to the substation and surrounding areas are cut not far off of US Route 101. This takes down internet and phone service to the substation.
01:07 : first reports of service outages begin to come in.
01:31 a streak of light is seen (possibly flashlight signal) and shortly after bullets are seen creating sparks from ricochets and striking the chain link fence as seen in this video of the incident.
Full video here:
Full video here:
01:37: PG&E receives alarm from motion sensors on site, most likely detecting the bullets hitting the fence.
01:41 Santa Clara County Sheriff'a office receives 911 call reporting gunfire sent from a neighboring powerstation. (One of the few that still had phone service)
01:41 Santa Clara County Sheriff'a office receives 911 call reporting gunfire sent from a neighboring powerstation. (One of the few that still had phone service)
01:45: PG&E receives equipment failure alarm. The first bank of transformers went offline, pumped full of holes and lead, they leaked 52,000 gallons of oil and overheated
01:50: "Signal light" is seen again and the attack ends
01:51 Cops arrive on scene and leave shortly after
01:50: "Signal light" is seen again and the attack ends
01:51 Cops arrive on scene and leave shortly after
So what makes this attack special?
Mainly that nothing else like it has happened before the attack and nothing has happened since then. It was highly sophisticated and there are a lot of oddities to it, ranging to the weapons used, and the attack itself.
Mainly that nothing else like it has happened before the attack and nothing has happened since then. It was highly sophisticated and there are a lot of oddities to it, ranging to the weapons used, and the attack itself.
The FBI and military experts reported that the Attack had all the makings of a professional job. Over 100 casings (7.62 x 39) were recovered after the attack. Not one had fingerprints on it.
Rock stacks were found, similar to those used to range firing positions (?) @offthe_res
Rock stacks were found, similar to those used to range firing positions (?) @offthe_res
Not only did the gunmen attack the substation, they also knew enough to disable comms prior, they knew where the cables were, which ones to cut, and how far to dig. They also concentrated fire at the cooling fins which requires some knowledge of the machinery.
The cooling fins are important as they were the most vulnerable part of the machine and were relatively unlikely to cause a fire or explosion.
The substation utilized SCADA, which meant that unlike other substations that used cell to report to the grid, this one used fiber optic
The substation utilized SCADA, which meant that unlike other substations that used cell to report to the grid, this one used fiber optic
The FBI spent weeks trying to find video of the gunmen. Despite taking place right next to two major roads, no cameras within 1 mile of the substation had any footage of them. How the gunmen Entered and left the site undetected is still unknown.
1 month after the attack a man dressed in all black was seen sneaking around the substation about 100 meters outside the fence. Cops arrived within 14 minutes of him being spotted but he escaped without a trace.
8 months later the US government ran a simulated attack against-
8 months later the US government ran a simulated attack against-
The US electric grid in an exercise called GridEx II. The results were a nightmare, relatively small groups of unsophisticated terrorists were able to disable ~80% of the US electric and communications grid.
The full exercise was compounded and suggestions on actions and-
The full exercise was compounded and suggestions on actions and-
Improvements were made & sent out to affected sites. In August of 2014 the Metcalf substation was hit again. A team cut the fence and raided the site. Most notably stealing copies of the exercise and maintenance logs and plans from the substation. No camera footage was recovered.
Also interestly enough we still don't know how large the team was. As camera footage was never captured of them. The Energy Regulatory Commission sent a team of Navy SEALs from NSF Dahlgren, they theorized that the group at a minimum would require 3-4 guys.
Highly organized team, able to enter and exit undetected, using unconventional weaponry, leads me to believe that this is a team with SF experience. Which makes sense considering how resourceful they seem to be. Their info is good and they were able to monitor police channels.
Let's elaborate on the Unconventuonal weaponry real quick.
The rifles in question were chambered in 7.62x39. A short to medium range rifle round developed in the 1940s. This round is most commonly used in the SKS and AK pattern rifles like these.
SKS on left
AK on right
The rifles in question were chambered in 7.62x39. A short to medium range rifle round developed in the 1940s. This round is most commonly used in the SKS and AK pattern rifles like these.
SKS on left
AK on right
7.62x39 is a readily available round in most places in the world where guns can be found. You could buy crates of Soviet and Chinese surplus for dirt cheap at gun shows and online for the longest time. The round is not known for its accuracy or ballistics.
7.62x39 was designed based on Soviet experiences in WW2, especially in regard to the close to medium range engagements and house to house fighting experienced in Leningrad and Stalingrad. This round would not be first pick among Snipers or Marksmen.
So why was it used here?
So why was it used here?
Here are two views of the substation in Google maps. As well as a map with a timeline of the incident.
https://goo.gl/maps/NRgsr
https://goo.gl/maps/iyoKG
As you can see based on the map, all shots were taken from less than 200 meters, which is relatively easy shooting.
https://goo.gl/maps/NRgsr
https://goo.gl/maps/iyoKG
As you can see based on the map, all shots were taken from less than 200 meters, which is relatively easy shooting.
Here is a (bad) animation of the attack on video from a news site.
7.62x39 might have been used due to the relatively low cost, ease of access to obtain, and ready availability. SKSs, AK pattern rifles used to be readily available at sub $200 for SKSs, and sub $600 for AK pattern rifles. Ar15s can also be modified to take 7.62x39 ammo.
So the question remains... why?
The substation going down didn't take down much. No one has claimed responsibility. There's a private 750k bounty on the attackers. No one has come forward. And no one has attacked substations in California since.
The substation going down didn't take down much. No one has claimed responsibility. There's a private 750k bounty on the attackers. No one has come forward. And no one has attacked substations in California since.
Theory #1 was that it was Eco terrorists.
Ignoring the part where this attack was claimed as sophisticated. It would explain the cheap weapons, flashlights instead of comms, and attacking a substation.
http://wrongfulconvictionsblog.org/2012/03/23/fingerprints-from-shell-casings/
Fingeprints are also tough to recover from shells.
Ignoring the part where this attack was claimed as sophisticated. It would explain the cheap weapons, flashlights instead of comms, and attacking a substation.
http://wrongfulconvictionsblog.org/2012/03/23/fingerprints-from-shell-casings/
Fingeprints are also tough to recover from shells.
PG&E is also incredibly shady as a company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Gas_and_Electric_Company#Controversies
In 2014 they started a project which removed thousands of trees that were private and publicly owned.
This being the work of eco terrorists would also explain them returning to steal the exercise data.
In 2014 they started a project which removed thousands of trees that were private and publicly owned.
This being the work of eco terrorists would also explain them returning to steal the exercise data.
Theory #2 was that this was the work of a government contractor.
After the attacks millions of dollars were pouring in nationwide to increase security at this substation and other remote substations. This attack was also the main justification for new regulations regarding-
After the attacks millions of dollars were pouring in nationwide to increase security at this substation and other remote substations. This attack was also the main justification for new regulations regarding-
Security and safety at substations. Henry Waxman of the US House Committee on energy and commerce referenced this attack 8 times while delivering testimony before Congress urging for enhancements and upgrades to security nationwide.
This being done by a contractor would explain them deliberately only hitting one substation, them targeting the attack to make it easier to repair rather than going for catastrophic damage.
What's really interesting is that 6 months prior this report was finally declassified. It gave an example of a mock attack and what to do. As well as highlighted the glaring vulnerability of the US electric grid.
Pdf:
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12050/terrorism-and-the-electric-power-delivery-system
Writeup: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2012/11/electric-power-grid-inherently-vulnerable-to-terrorist-attacks-report-delayed-in-classification-review-will-be-updated
Pdf:
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12050/terrorism-and-the-electric-power-delivery-system
Writeup: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2012/11/electric-power-grid-inherently-vulnerable-to-terrorist-attacks-report-delayed-in-classification-review-will-be-updated
The use of 7.62x39 rifles would also be used to highlight just how easily and readily the average Joe could pull something like this off.
Perhaps it was a dress rehearsal for overseas operations? Especially in areas that AK pattern rifles are common? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/venezuela-blackout-latest-news-maduro-sniper-prayers
Perhaps it was a dress rehearsal for overseas operations? Especially in areas that AK pattern rifles are common? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/venezuela-blackout-latest-news-maduro-sniper-prayers
Another supporting argument for this is that they struck just after the moon had set. http://www.almanac.com/astronomy/rise/CA/San%20Jose/2013-04-16
This would limit their visibility and would provide the optimum environment for night vision equipment.
Officials say they had NODs
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-grid-attack-20140211-story.html
This would limit their visibility and would provide the optimum environment for night vision equipment.
Officials say they had NODs
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-grid-attack-20140211-story.html
Also interesting is the media blackout for around a year and how quick the FBI was to dismiss this as "not terrorism". Granted since the boston bombing happened around the same time, it's likely that they wanted to free up resources to focus on that effort.
Theory #3 is that this was the work of a disgruntled employee. As the attack required intimate knowledge of the substation and machinery. This still wouldn't explain breaking back in after the fact, and how clean the attack went off.
Theory #4 was that this attack was preperation for something larger. Which could be the case as in 2016 a substation was hit.
https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060043920
Personally I don't think they're related as the MO was entirely different. This one wasnt as sophisticated.
https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060043920
Personally I don't think they're related as the MO was entirely different. This one wasnt as sophisticated.
All in all, we don't know who or what hit this substation and why it was hit. The attackers remain at large and there is still a large reward on them. It's unlikely they will ever be caught.
