Tennessee: US police consider conspiracy theories about Nashville terrorist

meA DNA sample that investigators took from his home gave certainty: The man who caused a loud explosion on Christmas Day in Nashville, Tennessee, apparently died at the scene.

Human tissue remains had been found in the remains of a trailer that investigators had previously discovered on surveillance cameras. The perpetrator has already been identified, said local FBI chief Douglas Korneski. Prosecutor Donald Cochran continued: “We have concluded that the attacker was a person named Anthony Quinn Warner.”

Warner was there when the bomb detonated, “and he died in the explosion,” Cochran said. The 63-year-old, who is described in the US media as an independent IT expert, had not previously been seen by police as a suspect.

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Nashville Police Chief John Drake said what is known so far is that Warner acted alone. The detonation, which was preceded by a warning to residents, caused massive damage to downtown property. In addition, three people were injured.

Investigators have so far not provided information on the type of explosive used by the author. They also left open whether the case could be classified as terrorism because the motive of the perpetrator is not yet clear. However, several possible theories are already being negotiated in the US media.

It is conceivable, according to CBS broadcaster, citing the local mayor, that the attack was aimed at the telecommunications giant A&T. His building was also damaged, which is why many clients in the region lost telephone and data connections for several days. According to media reports, Anthony Warner’s father also worked for the company years ago.

Worried about the new cellular standard?

But at least it’s conceivable that the 63-year-old could have attached several conspiracy theories. Among other things, conspiracy theorists around the world brand the new 5G cellular standard as a surveillance tool. As reported by the British “Independent”, a witness questioned by the police told reporters that they also asked him if Warner had ever expressed concern about this technology. His answer: No, he did not.

There is also speculation on social media about whether an alleged QAnon supporter may have turned violent towards Warner. QAnon supporters also believe in secret state espionage, here too 5G is seen as a possible surveillance tool. But there is no evidence for this thesis either. It is also open if the alleged perpetrator left a manifesto or a suicide note.

Meanwhile, neighbors describe the alleged murderer as a quiet and reserved person. “I think some people would say it’s a little weird. He was kind of a computer freak who worked at home, “Warner’s neighbor Steve Schmoldt told reporters, writes The Guardian, for example.

However, some details of the area surrounding the attack show that the 63-year-old had planned his act well in advance. The British Daily Mail, for example, investigated that Warner had already given his house a month earlier, to a young woman from California (Michelle S., 29 years old) who, according to her own statements, did not know him or the gift (the house in outside of Nashville is said to be worth around $ 100,000). In Tennessee, a special online platform called “Quitclaim” allows such gifts to be made without the knowledge of the recipient.

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Psychologists note that people at risk of suicide often start giving away their possessions before they die. In the Warner case, however, this could not be interpreted as a red flag due to the confidentiality of the aforementioned transaction.

What role did Petula Clark’s “Downtown” play?

Many details of the attack remain mysterious. What about the announcement that could be heard from the caravan for minutes, in which an apparently mechanical female voice called for the evacuation of the place and announced a countdown of 15 minutes? And why was Petula Clark’s famous song “Downtown” also heard on a tape in the middle?

However, it is clear that this action probably saved lives: the police who were there were able to bring several residents to safety. According to investigators, the people likely would have died without warning.

Images from the blast site showed damaged houses, burned cars and debris on the street. After the explosion on Friday, several fires could be seen in the photos; a rising column of black smoke was visible from afar. Mayor John Cooper spoke of “catastrophic damage.” More than 40 stores were damaged, he said.

After the explosion, only the FBI participated in the investigation with about 250 agents. With the help of recordings of the caravan, which investigators located on surveillance cameras shortly before the blast, experts were apparently able to quickly establish the connection to the perpetrator. His home outside Nashville had already been searched on Saturday.

As a general rule, we do not report suicides, unless the crime receives special attention due to the circumstances. If you yourself have the feeling that you need help, immediately contact the telephone counseling (www.telefonseelsorge.de). By calling the toll-free number 0800-1110111 or 0800-1110222, you can get anonymous help from consultants who can show you how to get out of difficult situations.