LOS ANGELES (AP) Federal authorities announced on Monday that they disrupted a plot to bomb multiple sites of two U.S. companies in Southern California on New Year's Eve. The arrests were made on Friday in the Mojave Desert, east of Los Angeles, where four suspects were found rehearsing their plan. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli provided details during a news conference, showcasing aerial surveillance footage of the suspects handling a large black object in the desert. Authorities claimed they arrested the individuals before they could assemble a functional explosive device.
The suspects have been identified as Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41, all hailing from the Los Angeles area. While a clear motive was not outlined, it was revealed that the suspects are affiliated with an offshoot of a group known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front, which advocates for decolonization, tribal sovereignty, and promotes anti-capitalist sentiments.
The term "Turtle Island" stems from Indigenous creation stories and serves as a name for North America, challenging colonial definitions imposed by the U.S. and Canada. At the campsite where bomb-making activities were taking place, officials also discovered flyers supporting the "Free Palestine" movement.
The suspects are charged with conspiracy and possession of a destructive device, with additional charges anticipated in the near future. Attorneys representing the suspects did not respond to requests for comment, and The Associated Press was unable to contact relatives. Attempts to reach out to the Turtle Island Liberation Front via social media also went unanswered.
According to the criminal complaint, Carroll devised a comprehensive plan last month detailing intentions to bomb five or more sites in Southern California on New Year's Eve. Although specific company names were withheld, officials described the targets as being similar to "Amazon-type" logistical centers. The plot was explicit, encompassing step-by-step instructions for creating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along with a list of multiple locations across Orange County and Los Angeles.
The plot specified that backpacks filled with intricate pipe bombs were to be detonated simultaneously at midnight on New Year's Eve. This timing was considered advantageous due to the noise of fireworks, which would mask the sound of the explosions. The handwritten plan, titled "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," also indicated that more targets could be identified later.
In a disturbing revelation, the criminal complaint mentioned that two members of the group had additionally discussed future attacks targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and vehicles, potentially carrying out such plans in 2026. The intent was to instill fear among the agents, with Carroll allegedly stating that these attacks would "take some of them out and scare the rest of them."
The group communicated both in person and through encrypted messaging apps, strategizing their plans. Investigators discovered a campsite strewn with bomb-making materials, including various sizes of PVC pipes, potassium nitrate, charcoal, sulfur powder, and fuse materials. The suspects had been accumulating these components, reportedly making purchases from websites such as Amazon.
Federal agents intervened last week while the suspects practiced their attack near Twentynine Palms, California. Essayli indicated that the group was fully equipped to create an operational bomb at that location. Following search warrants served at their residences, additional incriminating evidence was uncovered, including posters calling for "Death to America" and "Death to ICE" at Carroll's home, and a copy of the detailed bomb plan at Page's residence.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized the cooperative efforts between federal and local officials in maintaining public safety, despite differing opinions on immigration enforcement during the Trump administration. The LAPD remains committed to not enforcing immigration laws.
The suspects were taken into custody without incident and were scheduled for a court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
