thanks for ping, Starwise.
I haven’t seen this mentioned yet (unless I missed it), but is this not a plot to commit an act of TERRORISM?
Yes - Economic Terrorism:
The concept of economic terrorism is disputed, and is generally used in a polemical or demagogic way to associate the term “terrorism” with a country, a company or a group accused of abuses.
Nevertheless, it is also used in a way more strictly defined to indicate an attempt at economic destabilization by a group. More precisely, in 2005 the Center of Security Policy of Geneva defined economic terrorism in the following terms:
Contrary to “economic warfare” which is undertaken by states against other states, “economic terrorism” would be undertaken by transnational or non-state actors. This could entail varied, coordinated and sophisticated or massive destabilizing actions in order to disrupt the economic and financial stability of a state, a group of states or a society (such as market oriented western societies) for ideological or religious motives.
These actions, if undertaken, may be violent or not. They could have either immediate effects or carry psychological effects which in turn have economic consequences.