🔗 Share this article

Law enforcement officials declared on Monday that they had successfully thwarted a elaborate plan to explode explosive devices at several facilities belonging to two American firms on New Year's Eve in the southern part of the state. The operation resulted from the apprehension of suspects associated with an extremist faction promoting anti-corporate and anti-establishment views.

Individuals Apprehended During Isolated Dry Run

Four suspects were taken into custody last Friday in the remote area found east of Los Angeles while they were according to officials running through their intended strike. Federal attorneys presented overhead monitoring images to the media, which depicted the group carrying a sizeable dark item to a workspace. Law enforcement emphasized that the apprehensions took place before the suspects could construct a operational explosive device.

Identities of the Those Charged Released

As per the filed court documents, the four suspects identified are a 30-year-old named Audrey Illeene Carroll; Zachary Aaron Page, 32 years old; Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. The group are reportedly from the Los Angeles area.

Alleged Motivation and Group Affiliations

While prosecutors did not clearly describe a rationale, they said the group are part of a faction called the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This entity allegedly advocates for "the working class to rebel and resist against the capitalist system," based on the court papers.

They face include conspiracy to commit a crime and owning a destructive device. Prosecutors noted that additional counts are anticipated in the coming weeks.

Elements of the Supposed "Midnight Sun Operation"

Officials stated that one of the suspects had devised a step-by-step plan last month to bomb at least five business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The intended sites were characterized as "Amazon-type" fulfillment centers.

"This scheme was specific," an official stated. "It laid out step-by-step instructions to make bombs … and identified multiple objectives across the county of Orange and Los Angeles."

As per the investigation and legal filings, the plan entailed placing rucksacks filled with sophisticated IEDs that were scheduled to be set off at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at five places. New Year's Eve was identified as an ideal time since the plan stated "celebratory explosions will be going off at this time so detonations will be more difficult to be noticed."

The eight-page manually written document, called "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," suggested that additional locations could be incorporated. The facilities were identified as assets and facilities run by two distinct firms tied to activities related to commerce.

Additional Plots and Materials Found

Court documents also revealed that two people in the group had planned subsequent strikes focusing on immigration enforcement agents and vehicles with IEDs in 2026. One accused according to the complaint commented that such strikes "would take some of them out and intimidate the rest of them."

The plotting were allegedly discussed both at an in-person assembly in Los Angeles and through an private digital platform.

Images contained in the court documents depict a isolated site with what investigators described as explosives-manufacturing materials strewn across makeshift work surfaces.

Official documents notes that the suspects "each brought IED parts to the location, such as assorted sizes of PVC pipes, believed to be a chemical compound, charcoal, powdered charcoal, powdered sulfur, and items to be used as fuses, among others."

The scheme also contained guidance on how to manufacture the bombs and how to avoid leaving forensic clues that could be traced back to the individuals. The individuals had in the recent past acquired precursor chemicals and other materials, via acquisitions from online retailers.

Arrest and Subsequent Actions

The FBI intervened last week while the individuals were rehearsing the strike in the desert near Twentynine Palms. "They had everything they were necessary to build an functional explosive device at that place," the prosecutor stated.

During executed searches, investigators reportedly discovered flyers for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one suspect's home that demanded "Down with America", and "ICE Must Go". At another suspect's residence, police located a version of the comprehensive bomb plan.

The suspects were taken into custody without incident. They were scheduled to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.