NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) – A man in Tennessee has been accused of saying he was “going to burn down” the xAI facility in Memphis, according to officials.
The Ashland City Police Department said an officer received a call on Feb. 19 from a person who wanted to report concerning comments their friend had made.
The caller told police 25-year-old Ethan Paul Early was upset over Elon Musk and President Donald Trump.
The caller also said Early had told them he was going to burn down one of Musk’s data centers using thermite, according to an affidavit. They said the suspect had already begun purchasing material to make the thermite online.
In the affidavit, the caller said that they were able to convince Early to not go through with it and that he threw away the material to make the thermite.
After police responded to Early’s home, officers reportedly questioned him about the statements he made about burning down the facility.
Police said he admitted to making the statements of burning something down to a few people and was upset with Musk and Trump.
Early reportedly also admitted to researching how to make thermite and that he was thinking of using it on an “AI facility in Memphis” that Musk owns.
The 25-year-old also told officers he began buying ingredients, including iron oxide and aluminum powder, to make thermite.
Officers said Early no longer wanted to take this course of action after his friends talked him out of it.
According to the affidavit, Early said he had gotten too wrapped up in politics and had gone “too far down the deep end.”
He added that he felt like “he had to do something,” according to the affidavit, and was also “ashamed of himself to get so carried away.”
Court records show that Early was arrested on Feb. 20 and charged with an act of terrorism with bail set at $500,000. He’s expected in court on March 12.
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