FBI arrest Texas man for attempting to blow up 'the internet' with C-4

Servers at risk — (Image credit: Getty - Andrew Aitchison)

Seth Aaron Pendley of Texas appeared in court this weekend after being apprehended by the FBI for conspiring to blow up the internet. *Checks notes* no, that is what it says. The idea was to take down an Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centre in order to free the USA from "the oligarchy" that he believes to be currently controlling his beloved country.

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Pendley's plans were flagged on encrypted communication service Signal, where he began outlining his plot to "kill of [sic] about 70 percent of the internet" under the username 'Dionysus'—the dual natured Greek God of fertility and wine, and patron of the arts.

A statement from the United States Department of Justice says when approached by one user who asked what outcome he wished for, "death" was Pendley's answer.

A user who came forward to alert the authorities ended up working with the FBI to introduce the suspect to an undercover agent. Cut to April 8, Fort Worth, Texas. The FBI agent posed as an arms dealer in a meeting with the culprit and, according to Conan Daily's sources, even showed him how to arm and detonate the C-4 plastic explosives he'd just bought.

The second Pendley placed them in his vehicle, he was arrested and reportedly confessed on the spot.

Pendley faces up to 20 years in federal prison, should he be convicted.

Having been obsessed with game mechanics, computers and graphics for three decades, Katie took Game Art and Design up to Masters level at uni and has been writing about digital games, tabletop games and gaming technology for over five years since. She can be found facilitating board game design workshops and optimising everything in her path.