American Officials Announce Apprehension in Disrupted New Year's Bomb Scheme Near Southern California
Law enforcement officials stated on Monday that they had successfully thwarted a comprehensive scheme to detonate bombs at multiple sites operated by two US-based companies on New Year's Eve in the southern part of the state. The operation followed the detainment of suspects part of an extremist faction promoting anti-corporate and anti-government beliefs.
Individuals Detained During Isolated Dry Run
A quartet of suspects were detained last Friday in the desert region found east of Los Angeles at the time they were allegedly rehearsing their planned operation. Officials showed from above monitoring images to reporters, that depicted the group moving a large black item to a workspace. Law enforcement noted that the apprehensions occurred ahead of the suspects could construct a fully functional explosive device.
Identities of the Suspects Released
Based on the public court documents, the four suspects identified are Carroll, aged 30; Page, 32; 24-year-old Dante Gaffield; and Tina Lai, 41. The group are reportedly from the greater Los Angeles region.
Alleged Motivation and Group Affiliations
While officials did not directly detail a reason, they stated the individuals are part of a faction dubbed the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group allegedly urges "laborers to revolt and combat against the capitalist system," based on the legal filing.
They face comprise conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of a destructive device. The government indicated that further counts are expected in the coming weeks.
Particulars of the Supposed "The Midnight Sun Plan"
Officials revealed that one of the accused had created a meticulous blueprint last month to bomb at least five business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The targets were described as "similar to Amazon" distribution warehouses.
"This scheme was explicit," a prosecutor said. "It laid out a precise guide to construct explosive devices … and named multiple objectives across Orange County and Los Angeles."
According to the case and legal filings, the scheme entailed planting backpacks packed with complex IEDs that were scheduled to be detonated simultaneously at midnight on New Year's Eve at five places. New Year's Eve was seen as an opportune time since the document stated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so blast noises will be less likely to be detected."
The handwritten, eight-page longhand document, titled "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," suggested that more sites could be incorporated. The sites were identified as property and facilities owned by two separate corporations tied to operations related to national and international trade.
Long-term Plans and Proof Seized
Court documents also stated that two members in the collective had talked about later attacks aimed at ICE agents officers and vehicles with explosives in 2026. One individual reportedly said that such actions "would take some of them out and scare the rest of them."
These plans were reportedly discussed both at an face-to-face assembly in Los Angeles and through an encrypted messaging app.
Photos featured in the case file show a desert campsite with what officials identified as explosives-manufacturing items scattered on plastic folding tables.
The complaint details that the individuals "each brought IED parts to the campsite, such as assorted sizes of tubes, suspected an oxidizer, charcoal briquettes, powdered charcoal, another chemical, and items to be used as detonators, among others."
Instructions also included guidance on how to build the explosives and how to prevent leaving forensic clues that could be connected back to the individuals. The individuals had in the recent past acquired chemical ingredients and other materials, with purchases from major websites.
Operation and Follow-up
Authorities intervened last week as the individuals were rehearsing the operation in the isolated region near Twentynine Palms. "They had all the components they were necessary to build an operational bomb at that place," the prosecutor said.
As part of executed searches, officials allegedly discovered posters for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one individual's home that demanded "America Must Fall", and "Death to ICE". At another accused's apartment, police found a copy of the detailed bomb plan.
The individuals were arrested peacefully. They were scheduled to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
