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Law enforcement officials stated on Monday that they had managed to foil a comprehensive scheme to detonate IEDs at multiple facilities operated by two US-based businesses on New Year's Eve in the LA region. The operation came after the arrest of suspects associated with an extremist offshoot espousing anti-system and anti-establishment beliefs.

Individuals Taken Into Custody During Isolated Rehearsal

Four individuals were taken into custody last Friday in the Mojave Desert situated east of Los Angeles while they were according to officials rehearsing their intended attack. Prosecutors presented aerial monitoring images to reporters, that depicted the individuals transporting a sizeable obscure item to a surface. Officials noted that the arrests took place before the suspects could construct a fully functional explosive device.

Names of the Accused Released

Based on the filed criminal complaint, the four suspects named are Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; 24-year-old Dante Gaffield; and Tina Lai, 41. All four are understood to be from the greater Los Angeles region.

Alleged Motivation and Ties

Even though officials did not explicitly describe a rationale, they indicated the group are part of a splinter group known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group allegedly advocates for "the working class to rebel and resist against the capitalist system," based on the legal filing.

The charges comprise conspiracy and owning a bomb. Prosecutors indicated that more counts are expected in the coming weeks.

Details of the Alleged "Operation Midnight Sun"

Officials stated that one of the suspects had devised a meticulous scheme last month to bomb at least five business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The locations were described as "Amazon-type" distribution centers.

"The bomb plot was explicit," an official said. "It laid out detailed directions to make bombs … and listed multiple sites across the county of Orange and Los Angeles."

As per the investigation and the complaint, the plan called for placing backpacks containing sophisticated explosive devices that were set to be exploded at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at 5 locations. New Year's Eve was identified as an ideal time because the plan noted "celebratory explosions will be going off at this time so explosions will be less likely to be heard."

The eight-page longhand blueprint, called "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," noted that additional targets could be added. The locations were described as property and facilities operated by two different corporations involved in business related to interstate and foreign commerce.

Additional Plots and Evidence Uncovered

Court documents also revealed that two individuals in the group had discussed subsequent operations aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and cars with explosives in 2026. One accused according to the complaint said that such attacks "would eliminate some and scare the rest of them."

These plans were allegedly planned both at an in-person gathering in Los Angeles and through an private digital platform.

Photos featured in the legal filings depict a remote camp with what officials described as explosives-manufacturing components laid out on plastic folding tables.

The filing notes that the individuals "each brought explosive materials to the campsite, among them various sizes of plastic pipes, suspected an oxidizer, charcoal briquettes, charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and material to be used as fuses, and more."

The scheme also had guidance on how to build the bombs and how to avoid leaving forensic clues that could be linked back to the individuals. The suspects had recently obtained precursor chemicals and other items, including acquisitions from e-commerce sites.

Apprehension and Follow-up

Authorities moved in last week as the suspects were practicing the attack in the isolated region near a desert community. "They possessed all the components they required to build an functional IED at that location," the prosecutor said.

In the course of executed searches, officials allegedly discovered flyers for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one suspect's residence that advocated "Death to America", and "Death to ICE". At another suspect's apartment, police found a version of the elaborate bomb plan.

The suspects were taken into custody without a struggle. They were set to appear in court in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.