Nashville Christmas bomber driven by paranoia and conspiracy theories, acted alone: FBI

The FBI said on Monday that Anthony Quinn Warner acted alone in building and detonating a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in downtown Nashville, Tenn., on Christmas morning. 

The FBI in its report said that Warner was largely driven to carry out the bombing due to paranoia, conspiracy theories and a desire to end his own life, adding that his actions were determined to not be related to terrorism.

“Based on analysis of the information and evidence gathered throughout the investigation, the FBI assesses Warner’s detonation of the improvised explosive device was an intentional act in an effort to end his own life, driven in part by a totality of life stressors — including paranoia, long-held individualized beliefs adopted from several eccentric conspiracy theories, and the loss of stabilizing anchors and deteriorating interpersonal relationships,” the FBI wrote.

A multi-agency investigation concluded that Warner chose the location of the bombing “so that it would be impactful, while still minimizing the likelihood of causing undue injury.” The bombing — right outside Nashville’s AT&T building — took down internet service for hundreds of households in middle Tennessee for several days.

“It is important to note that only Warner knows the real reason why he detonated his explosive device. However, at this time, the FBI is confident, based on evidence collected, Warner’s own writings, and interviews with those who knew him best, that the above assessment is accurate,” the FBI added.

Multiple federal and state agencies were involved in the investigation, including the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Reports indicate that a warning was blared out of the vehicle just before it exploded, telling people to get away.

Shortly after the bombing, federal agents searched Warner’s home in Antioch, Tenn., after analyzing evidence from the debris as well as Warner’s DNA. 

Before the bombing, Warner had not been on the FBI’s radar and questions have been raised regarding the ease with which he was able to construct such a destructive bomb. The last job Warner held before the bombing was as a contract laborer for computer consulting at a Nashville real estate firm.

Multiple people in Warner’s life later said that there had been warning signs about his behavior. A neighbor, Rick Laude, told The Associated Press that Warner had said “Nashville and the world is never going to forget me” just days before the bombing. Warner’s girlfriend reportedly told police that he had been making explosives back in 2019.

Read FBI report on Nashville bombing by kballuck1 on Scribd