🔗 Share this article

US authorities announced on Monday that they had effectively disrupted a elaborate scheme to set off explosive devices at numerous sites operated by two corporate businesses on New Year's Eve in Southern California. The operation followed the detainment of people linked to an radical offshoot espousing anti-corporate and anti-government beliefs.

Individuals Apprehended During Desert Practice

A quartet of individuals were detained last Friday in the desert region located east of Los Angeles while they were reportedly running through their planned operation. Prosecutors showed aerial reconnaissance footage to reporters, that showed the suspects moving a large black object to a table. Officials noted that the detainments were made ahead of the suspects could construct a fully functional IED.

Details of the Accused Disclosed

According to the filed criminal complaint, the four individuals listed are Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; 24-year-old Dante Gaffield; and Tina Lai, 41. All four are said to be from the greater Los Angeles region.

Reported Motivation and Group Affiliations

While officials did not explicitly detail a motive, they stated the individuals are part of a faction known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group according to documents advocates for "laborers to rebel and combat against the capitalist system," as per the court papers.

They face comprise conspiracy and having a destructive device. Officials stated that further charges are likely in the next few weeks.

Particulars of the Alleged "The Midnight Sun Plan"

Prosecutors revealed that one of the individuals had drafted a detailed blueprint last month to bomb five or more business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The locations were described as "Amazon-type" fulfillment warehouses.

"The plan was detailed," a prosecutor stated. "It included detailed directions to make bombs … and named multiple targets across Orange County and Los Angeles."

As per the investigation and the complaint, the scheme entailed placing bags filled with complex pipe bombs that were set to be detonated at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at several places. New Year's Eve was seen as an opportune time since the plan stated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so blast noises will be harder to be heard."

An eight-page manually written document, called "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," suggested that more targets could be added. The facilities were categorized as assets and facilities owned by two different corporations tied to activities related to interstate and foreign commerce.

Future Plots and Proof Uncovered

The criminal complaint also indicated that two people in the group had talked about subsequent operations focusing on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and transport with IEDs in 2026. One accused reportedly noted that such actions "would eliminate some and frighten the rest of them."

These plans were allegedly planned both at an face-to-face gathering in Los Angeles and through an secure messaging app.

Images included in the case file depict a desert campsite with what investigators said were explosives-manufacturing materials strewn across makeshift work surfaces.

Official documents details that the suspects "carried explosive materials to the site, such as various sizes of plastic pipes, believed to be a chemical compound, fuel, fuel powder, another chemical, and items to be used as fuses, along with other items."

The plan also included directions on how to construct the devices and how to not leave behind evidence that could be linked back to the individuals. The suspects had in the recent past purchased precursor chemicals and other materials, with buys from e-commerce sites.

Operation and Subsequent Actions

Authorities took action last week as the suspects were running through the operation in the isolated region near a desert community. "They possessed every item they were necessary to make an working IED at that site," the prosecutor stated.

During served raids, authorities allegedly discovered posters for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one individual's dwelling that demanded "Death to America", and "Eliminate ICE". At another individual's apartment, police found a duplicate of the detailed explosives scheme.

Those arrested were taken into custody peacefully. They were due to appear in court in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.