LOS ANGELES — In a significant development, federal authorities revealed on Monday the capture of four individuals allegedly affiliated with an extremist faction, accused of orchestrating bombing attacks planned for New Year’s Eve throughout Southern California.
The suspects, identified as Audrey Carroll, Zachary Page, Dante Gaffield, and Tina Lai, are purported members of a group called the “Turtle Island Liberation Front,” which holds strong anti-capitalist and anti-government ideologies. They face charges of conspiracy and possession of unregistered destructive devices related to their suspected plot.
The arrests occurred last week in Lucerne Valley, located near the desert city of Twentynine Palms, California, which is known for its Marine Corps base. All four individuals hail from the Los Angeles area.
During a press briefing on Monday, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli indicated that the group might face further charges. Authorities believe they have apprehended all participants directly involved in the plot, although the group may have additional members.
The arrested individuals are slated to make their initial court appearance later on Monday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint, Carroll handed over a handwritten document titled “Operation Midnight Sun” to an FBI confidential source in November. The document allegedly outlined a plan to place backpacks containing improvised explosive devices at five locations, targeting two U.S. companies, with the intention to detonate them simultaneously at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
“These bombs were to blow up at the same time at midnight this New Year’s Eve,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis. “The plan stated that the IEDs would be complex pipe bombs and included instructions on how to manufacture the bombs and contain guidance on how to avoid leaving evidence behind that can be traced back.”
Evidence photos in the court documents show a desert campsite with what investigators said were bomb-making materials strewn across plastic folding tables.
The suspects “all brought bomb-making components to the campsite, including various sizes of PVC pipes, suspected potassium nitrate, charcoal, charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and material to be used as fuses, among others,” the complaint states.
Agents allegedly placed the group under arrest after they took steps to build the devices under a tent that was allegedly intended to shield the materials from the sun.
Carroll and other participants are alleged to have formed a Signal chat known as the “Order of the Black Lotus,” which they deemed a “radical” faction of the TILF and ultimately used it to discuss their bombing plot.
In a search of Carroll’s residence, investigators uncovered posters and materials associated with TILF including one reading “DEATH TO ICE” and another reading “DEATH TO AMERICA, LONG LIVE TURTLE ISLAND & PALESTINE.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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