US authorities announced on Monday that they had successfully thwarted a comprehensive plan to set off IEDs at several facilities operated by two corporate businesses on New Year's Eve in the southern part of the state. The operation resulted from the arrest of suspects part of an militant offshoot espousing anti-capitalist and anti-government views.
Those Arrested Taken Into Custody During Desert Dry Run
A quartet of suspects were taken into custody last Friday in the Mojave Desert situated east of Los Angeles while they were according to officials running through their proposed strike. Prosecutors showed from above surveillance footage to reporters, which showed the group transporting a big obscure item to a workspace. Officials emphasized that the arrests took place before the group could put together a operational bomb.
Names of the Accused Released
According to the public criminal complaint, the four people listed are a 30-year-old named Audrey Illeene Carroll; Zachary Aaron Page, 32 years old; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. All four are said to be from the greater Los Angeles vicinity.
Reported Motive and Ties
Even though prosecutors did not explicitly describe a rationale, they indicated the individuals are adherents of a faction dubbed the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This organization according to documents calls for "laborers to rise up and fight back against the capitalist system," based on the criminal complaint.
Each suspect is charged with comprise plotting and possession of a explosive. Prosecutors stated that more accusations are expected in the weeks ahead.
Particulars of the Alleged "Midnight Sun Operation"
Prosecutors said that one of the accused had created a step-by-step blueprint last month to bomb at least five corporate facilities across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The targets were characterized as "similar to Amazon" logistical centers.
"This scheme was explicit," a prosecutor remarked. "It included detailed directions to construct explosive devices … and named numerous targets across Orange county and Los Angeles."
According to the probe and legal filings, the scheme called for positioning bags containing complex IEDs that were set to be set off at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at 5 locations. New Year's Eve was identified as an opportune time because the scheme stated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so detonations will be harder to be noticed."
The eight-page handwritten document, titled "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," noted that additional locations could be added. The facilities were described as assets and operations operated by two distinct firms tied to activities involving commerce.
Future Plans and Materials Seized
The criminal complaint also revealed that two individuals in the collective had planned later attacks targeting immigration enforcement officers and transport with pipe bombs in 2026. One individual reportedly said that such attacks "would eliminate some and scare the rest of them."
These plans were reportedly discussed both at an face-to-face gathering in Los Angeles and through an secure communication application.
Pictures contained in the court documents depict a desert campsite with what authorities identified as explosives-manufacturing materials laid out on plastic folding tables.
The complaint notes that the individuals "each brought bomb-making components to the location, including assorted sizes of PVC pipes, identified as an oxidizer, fuel, fuel powder, powdered sulfur, and items to be used as fuses, along with other items."
The plan also contained guidance on how to manufacture the explosives and how to prevent leaving evidence that could be traced back to the group. The accused had not long ago acquired chemical ingredients and other goods, with acquisitions from major websites.
Apprehension and Follow-up
The FBI took action last week as the group were practicing the attack in the isolated region near Twentynine Palms. "They had every item they required to build an working IED at that location," an official stated.
During served search warrants, officials allegedly located signs for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one individual's dwelling that called for "Death to America", and "Eliminate ICE". At another suspect's apartment, police discovered a version of the detailed attack blueprint.
The individuals were arrested without incident. They were due to appear in court in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
