Four people charged with planning New Year’s Eve attacks in Southern California, according to prosecutors.
Federal authorities announced the disruption of a significant plot aimed at bombing multiple U.S. companies on New Year’s Eve in Southern California, leading to the arrests of four individuals associated with an extremist anti-capitalist and anti-government group. The arrests occurred on Friday when the suspects were reportedly testing explosives in a remote desert area east of Los Angeles, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who addressed the media during a press conference.
The suspects, identified as Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30, Zachary Aaron Page, 32, Dante Gaffield, 24, and Tina Lai, 41, all hail from the Los Angeles region. While authorities refrained from detailing a specific motive, they confirmed that the individuals are linked to a faction of a pro-Palestinian organization known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. Each suspect faces charges of conspiracy and possession of a destructive device, with indications that further charges may be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.
Evidence presented during the press conference included surveillance footage depicting the suspects moving a large black object just prior to their apprehension. In court documents, it was revealed that Carroll had devised a comprehensive plan targeting five or more locations throughout Southern California, aiming to hit various companies, which officials described as logistical centers similar to Amazon.
Carroll’s detailed scheme included explicit instructions for constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with intentions to plant backpacks containing these bombs at multiple businesses to detonate simultaneously at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Furthermore, two members of the group reportedly discussed future attack plans, targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and infrastructure in 2026.
The group communicated their plans both through encrypted messaging applications and during in-person meetings. Investigators discovered bomb-making materials in a desert campsite, including components such as PVC pipes, potassium nitrate, charcoal, sulfur powder, and various fusing materials. These preparations underscored their capabilities, with authorities asserting that the group had everything necessary to assemble operational explosives.
In addition to the immediate threat presented, search warrants executed at the suspects’ residences uncovered materials indicative of their extremist beliefs, including posters promoting violence against the U.S. and ICE operatives. Despite local dissent regarding immigration policies, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized the collaborative efforts of federal and local authorities in safeguarding the community.
The suspects were taken into custody without incident and were slated to appear in court on Monday in Los Angeles. This operation highlights ongoing security concerns and the potentially dangerous intersections of extremist ideology and actionable plots within the U.S.
