US Officials Announce Arrests in Disrupted New Year's Eve Terror Plot Close to Southern California

Federal agents declared on Monday that they had effectively disrupted a comprehensive plan to set off explosive devices at multiple facilities operated by two US-based companies on New Year's Eve in Southern California. The move came after the arrest of individuals associated with an radical faction advocating for anti-capitalist and anti-establishment views.

Suspects Taken Into Custody During Desert Rehearsal

Four individuals were arrested last Friday in the Mojave Desert situated east of Los Angeles at the time they were according to officials running through their intended operation. Federal attorneys presented overhead surveillance images to journalists, that depicted the suspects transporting a big obscure object to a table. Authorities emphasized that the detainments took place prior to the suspects could assemble a fully functional bomb.

Details of the Suspects Made Public

Based on the submitted criminal complaint, the four suspects listed are Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, who is 41. The group are said to be from the greater Los Angeles region.

Alleged Driving Force and Ties

While officials did not explicitly describe a rationale, they stated the individuals are members of a offshoot known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group allegedly urges "laborers to rise up and combat against capitalism," as per the court papers.

The charges involve plotting and owning a destructive device. The government noted that more accusations are likely in the weeks ahead.

Details of the Alleged "Operation Midnight Sun"

Prosecutors said that one of the individuals had created a step-by-step scheme last month to target five or more business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The targets were likened to "similar to Amazon" logistical centers.

"This scheme was specific," an official remarked. "It contained detailed directions to build IEDs … and named numerous sites across Orange county and Los Angeles."

According to the probe and court documents, the plot called for planting backpacks containing sophisticated pipe bombs that were scheduled to be detonated all at once at midnight on New Year's Eve at five places. New Year's Eve was identified as an ideal time as the document indicated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so blast noises will be harder to be noticed."

An eight-page handwritten blueprint, titled "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," noted that additional sites could be included. The facilities were described as assets and operations owned by two separate firms involved in activities affecting national and international trade.

Long-term Schemes and Evidence Found

The criminal complaint also revealed that two people in the collective had discussed later strikes aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and transport with explosives in 2026. One individual according to the complaint commented that such strikes "would kill some and scare the rest of them."

These plans were reportedly talked over both at an in-person assembly in Los Angeles and through an private communication application.

Pictures featured in the legal filings reveal a isolated site with what authorities identified as IED-construction components strewn across makeshift work surfaces.

The filing details that the individuals "carried explosive materials to the campsite, such as various sizes of PVC pipes, believed to be potassium nitrate, charcoal, fuel powder, sulfur powder, and material to be used as fuses, along with other items."

The plan also contained guidance on how to manufacture the bombs and how to prevent leaving evidence that could be traced back to the individuals. The individuals had recently purchased precursor chemicals and other materials, via buys from e-commerce sites.

Apprehension and Subsequent Actions

Federal agents moved in last week while the suspects were rehearsing the operation in the desert near Twentynine Palms. "They possessed everything they were necessary to construct an functional explosive device at that site," the prosecutor said.

As part of carried out raids, officials reportedly found signs for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one accused's residence that demanded "Down with America", and "ICE Must Go". At another accused's residence, police found a copy of the elaborate attack blueprint.

The individuals were detained without a struggle. They were due to appear in court in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.