US authorities stated on Monday that they had managed to foil a elaborate plan to detonate bombs at multiple sites run by two corporate firms on New Year's Eve in Southern California. The move came after the apprehension of individuals part of an radical faction promoting anti-corporate and anti-authority ideologies.
Suspects Detained During Isolated Rehearsal
The four people were detained last Friday in the Mojave Desert found east of Los Angeles at the time they were allegedly running through their proposed strike. Officials displayed from above surveillance images to reporters, which captured the suspects transporting a large obscure device to a table. Officials noted that the detainments took place before the individuals could put together a operational IED.
Details of the Those Charged Made Public
According to the submitted court documents, the four suspects listed are Carroll, aged 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. Each of them are understood to be from the Los Angeles area.
Alleged Motive and Ties
While authorities did not explicitly describe a reason, they stated the individuals are members of a faction dubbed the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This entity allegedly calls for "the working class to revolt and fight back against the capitalist system," based on the legal filing.
The charges comprise conspiracy to commit a crime and having a explosive. Prosecutors noted that more charges are likely in the coming weeks.
Elements of the Supposed "Operation Midnight Sun"
Prosecutors said that one of the accused had created a detailed scheme last month to attack five or more business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The targets were likened to "Amazon-type" distribution warehouses.
"The bomb plot was specific," an official remarked. "It laid out detailed directions to construct explosive devices … and listed numerous sites across Orange County and Los Angeles."
According to the probe and legal filings, the plan called for positioning backpacks containing intricate IEDs that were planned to be detonated at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at five locations. New Year's Eve was identified as an perfect time since the document indicated "celebratory explosions will be going off at this time so explosions will be more difficult to be heard."
The handwritten, eight-page handwritten blueprint, named "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," noted that additional targets could be incorporated. The locations were identified as property and facilities run by two different corporations tied to operations involving national and international trade.
Additional Plans and Proof Uncovered
Court documents also stated that two people in the group had discussed subsequent operations focusing on immigration enforcement agents and transport with pipe bombs in 2026. One accused reportedly said that such attacks "would kill some and intimidate the rest of them."
These plans were reportedly talked over both at an physical meeting in Los Angeles and through an private messaging app.
Photos included in the case file reveal a desert campsite with what authorities said were bomb-making items strewn across plastic folding tables.
The filing notes that the group "each brought bomb-making components to the site, including assorted sizes of tubes, identified as an oxidizer, fuel, fuel powder, sulfur powder, and components to be used as detonators, along with other items."
Instructions also contained steps on how to build the explosives and how to not leave behind forensic clues that could be connected back to the individuals. The individuals had recently purchased components and other items, via buys from e-commerce sites.
Apprehension and Subsequent Actions
The FBI intervened last week while the group were running through the attack in the isolated region near a California town. "They had all the components they required to build an functional bomb at that place," the attorney stated.
In the course of carried out search warrants, authorities allegedly located posters for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one suspect's home that advocated "Death to America", and "Eliminate ICE". At another accused's residence, police located a copy of the elaborate explosives scheme.
The suspects were taken into custody without incident. They were scheduled to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
