US Law Enforcement Report Arrests in Disrupted New Year's Eve Bomb Plan Outside Southern California
US authorities declared on Monday that they had managed to foil a comprehensive plan to explode bombs at several sites belonging to two US-based companies on New Year's Eve in the southern part of the state. The move came after the detainment of individuals part of an extremist group espousing anti-capitalist and anti-authority views.
Suspects Taken Into Custody During Isolated Practice
The four individuals were detained last Friday in the Mojave Desert found east of Los Angeles at the time they were reportedly rehearsing their planned operation. Officials displayed overhead reconnaissance footage to the media, which depicted the individuals transporting a sizeable obscure item to a workspace. Law enforcement emphasized that the detainments took place before the group could put together a operational bomb.
Names of the Those Charged Disclosed
As per the public legal filing, the four individuals identified are Carroll, aged 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; 24-year-old Dante Gaffield; and Tina Lai, who is 41. Each of them are reportedly from the greater Los Angeles vicinity.
Alleged Motivation and Connections
While authorities did not explicitly detail a rationale, they stated the group are members of a faction dubbed the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This organization reportedly calls for "the working class to revolt and combat against corporate power," according to the criminal complaint.
The charges include conspiracy and having a bomb. Prosecutors stated that further counts are likely in the weeks ahead.
Particulars of the Supposed "Midnight Sun Operation"
Officials revealed that one of the suspects had devised a detailed scheme last month to target multiple business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The intended sites were likened to "like Amazon" fulfillment warehouses.
"The bomb plot was specific," the attorney stated. "It contained a precise guide to make bombs … and named several targets across Orange County and Los Angeles."
According to the investigation and court documents, the scheme called for planting bags packed with complex pipe bombs that were set to be set off all at once at midnight on New Year's Eve at 5 sites. New Year's Eve was identified as an perfect time since the plan stated "fireworks will be going off at this time so detonations will be less likely to be heard."
The eight-page longhand blueprint, called "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," suggested that additional sites could be included. The facilities were categorized as property and facilities run by two separate corporations involved in activities affecting commerce.
Long-term Plans and Evidence Uncovered
Court documents also revealed that two people in the faction had planned later attacks targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and transport with pipe bombs in 2026. One individual reportedly noted that such actions "would take some of them out and intimidate the rest of them."
These plans were allegedly planned both at an in-person assembly in Los Angeles and through an private messaging app.
Photos featured in the court documents reveal a desert campsite with what authorities said were IED-construction items strewn across plastic folding tables.
The filing details that the suspects "each brought IED parts to the site, including various sizes of plastic pipes, suspected an oxidizer, charcoal, charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and material to be used as fuses, among others."
The scheme also included steps on how to build the devices and how to avoid leaving traces that could be traced back to the faction. The suspects had recently purchased components and other items, including purchases from e-commerce sites.
Apprehension and Aftermath
Federal agents intervened last week while the group were practicing the operation in the remote area near Twentynine Palms. "They had every item they required to build an operational bomb at that location," the attorney commented.
During served searches, authorities allegedly found posters for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one accused's dwelling that advocated "America Must Fall", and "ICE Must Go". At another accused's apartment, police found a duplicate of the elaborate bomb plan.
The individuals were arrested peacefully. They were due to appear in court in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
