Put all thoughts about people out of the picture - they are up to something and need elements installed before the power coomes back on.
The people, live or die, riot or rot, ansolutely do not matter or figure into the equation except as "bonus".

They close the banks on friday and when they open monday, people who had 895,000.00 have 8,950.00 left.

So......they turn off the city on friday.....and storm troopers move in