US authorities announced on Monday that they had effectively disrupted a detailed scheme to set off explosive devices at multiple locations run by two US-based companies on New Year's Eve in the LA region. This action followed the apprehension of suspects part of an militant offshoot espousing anti-capitalist and anti-authority ideologies.
Individuals Detained During Isolated Rehearsal
A quartet of people were detained last Friday in the Mojave Desert located east of Los Angeles while they were allegedly running through their planned strike. Federal attorneys presented from above monitoring video to the media, that captured the individuals moving a sizeable obscure item to a surface. Authorities emphasized that the detainments took place prior to the suspects could construct a operational bomb.
Names of the Those Charged Released
Based on the public court documents, the four individuals named are Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32 years old; Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. All four are reportedly from the LA vicinity.
Alleged Motivation and Ties
Even though authorities did not directly describe a motive, they said the individuals are part of a splinter group known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group reportedly urges "the working class to rebel and fight back against the capitalist system," based on the legal filing.
Each suspect is charged with comprise plotting and having a bomb. Officials stated that additional charges are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Particulars of the Alleged "Operation Midnight Sun"
Authorities stated that one of the individuals had drafted a detailed scheme last month to target at least five corporate facilities across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The intended sites were described as "Amazon-type" logistical hubs.
"The bomb plot was explicit," a prosecutor said. "It contained a precise guide to build IEDs … and identified multiple sites across Orange county and Los Angeles."
According to the probe and the complaint, the scheme involved planting rucksacks containing complex IEDs that were scheduled to be exploded at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at five places. New Year's Eve was chosen as an opportune time because the scheme indicated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so explosions will be harder to be heard."
An eight-page manually written plan, named "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," stated that additional locations could be added. The facilities were categorized as property and facilities operated by two separate companies tied to activities related to national and international trade.
Long-term Plots and Evidence Uncovered
The investigation also revealed that two people in the faction had talked about future operations targeting immigration enforcement personnel and transport with IEDs in 2026. One accused allegedly noted that such attacks "would take some of them out and frighten the rest of them."
These plans were allegedly discussed both at an physical assembly in Los Angeles and through an private communication application.
Pictures contained in the case file show a desert campsite with what authorities said were IED-construction components laid out on portable tables.
The complaint details that the individuals "carried bomb-making components to the location, including assorted sizes of tubes, believed to be potassium nitrate, charcoal, powdered charcoal, sulfur powder, and material to be used as igniters, along with other items."
The scheme also contained steps on how to construct the explosives and how to not leave behind traces that could be connected back to the group. The suspects had not long ago purchased precursor chemicals and other materials, with buys from online retailers.
Arrest and Subsequent Actions
Authorities moved in last week when the individuals were practicing the attack in the desert near Twentynine Palms. "They had everything they were necessary to build an operational IED at that place," the attorney said.
As part of carried out raids, authorities allegedly discovered signs for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one individual's dwelling that called for "Death to America", and "ICE Must Go". At another individual's home, police discovered a duplicate of the detailed bomb plan.
The suspects were detained without a struggle. They were scheduled to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
