🔗 Share this article Federal Officials Announce Detainment in Thwarted Year-End Terror Plot Close to Los Angeles Law enforcement officials stated on Monday that they had managed to foil a elaborate plot to set off IEDs at multiple locations belonging to two US-based companies on New Year's Eve in the LA region. The move came after the apprehension of suspects part of an radical group promoting anti-corporate and anti-establishment ideologies. Individuals Taken Into Custody During Desert Practice A quartet of suspects were taken into custody last Friday in the Mojave Desert situated east of Los Angeles as they were allegedly practicing their intended operation. Prosecutors displayed from above surveillance video to the media, which showed the group moving a big black device to a workspace. Law enforcement stressed that the arrests took place ahead of the suspects could construct a working explosive device. Details of the Those Charged Made Public Based on the filed criminal complaint, the four people named are a 30-year-old named Audrey Illeene Carroll; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Lai, 41. All four are said to be from the LA area. Suspected Motive and Connections While authorities did not clearly describe a rationale, they said the suspects are part of a splinter group dubbed the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This organization allegedly advocates for "the working class to rebel and combat against the capitalist system," based on the court papers. Each suspect is charged with comprise conspiracy to commit a crime and owning a destructive device. Officials stated that more counts are likely in the coming weeks. Details of the Reported "Operation Midnight Sun" Prosecutors stated that one of the suspects had devised a step-by-step blueprint last month to bomb at least five commercial sites across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The targets were described as "Amazon-type" logistical warehouses. "The bomb plot was detailed," an official remarked. "It contained step-by-step instructions to make bombs … and identified multiple sites across the county of Orange and Los Angeles." According to the probe and the complaint, the plot entailed positioning backpacks packed with complex IEDs that were set to be detonated all at once at midnight on New Year's Eve at five locations. New Year's Eve was chosen as an perfect time because the scheme noted "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so explosions will be less likely to be detected." An eight-page manually written document, called "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," noted that further locations could be incorporated. The sites were categorized as assets and operations owned by two separate corporations connected with operations affecting commerce. Additional Plans and Proof Seized Court documents also revealed that two people in the faction had talked about subsequent strikes aimed at ICE agents personnel and cars with IEDs in 2026. One accused allegedly said that such attacks "would take some of them out and frighten the rest of them." The plotting were reportedly planned both at an face-to-face assembly in Los Angeles and through an private communication application. Photos included in the court documents show a isolated site with what investigators identified as bomb-making items scattered on makeshift work surfaces. Official documents details that the group "carried explosive materials to the campsite, such as various sizes of plastic pipes, believed to be a chemical compound, charcoal briquettes, charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and items to be used as fuses, and more." The scheme also contained steps on how to build the devices and how to prevent leaving traces that could be linked back to the individuals. The individuals had not long ago purchased components and other goods, via acquisitions from major websites. Operation and Aftermath Authorities intervened last week while the suspects were rehearsing the operation in the desert near Twentynine Palms. "They had all the components they needed to build an functional bomb at that place," the prosecutor stated. During served search warrants, authorities reportedly located flyers for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one suspect's residence that advocated "Down with America", and "Eliminate ICE". At another individual's residence, police found a version of the elaborate explosives scheme. The individuals were taken into custody without incident. They were set to make a court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.