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Law enforcement officials stated on Monday that they had effectively disrupted a detailed scheme to detonate bombs at several locations operated by two American companies on New Year's Eve in the southern part of the state. The move came after the arrest of suspects associated with an militant offshoot espousing anti-system and anti-establishment views.

Individuals Detained During Desert Rehearsal

The four people were arrested last Friday in the remote area situated east of Los Angeles as they were according to officials running through their intended strike. Prosecutors showed aerial monitoring footage to the media, that depicted the suspects carrying a sizeable dark device to a table. Authorities noted that the apprehensions were made prior to the suspects could put together a operational bomb.

Names of the Accused Made Public

According to the filed criminal complaint, the four individuals identified are Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. All four are reportedly from the Los Angeles region.

Suspected Motivation and Ties

Even though officials did not directly outline a rationale, they indicated the suspects are members of a faction called the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This entity allegedly urges "the working class to revolt and fight back against corporate power," based on the criminal complaint.

They face include conspiracy and having a bomb. The government noted that further accusations are likely in the next few weeks.

Details of the Alleged "Operation Midnight Sun"

Officials revealed that one of the individuals had drafted a detailed blueprint last month to target at least five business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The targets were characterized as "Amazon-type" distribution warehouses.

"The plan was detailed," the attorney stated. "It laid out step-by-step instructions to make bombs … and listed numerous objectives across Orange county and Los Angeles."

As per the case and legal filings, the plan entailed placing backpacks containing complex IEDs that were set to be exploded at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at five sites. New Year's Eve was seen as an perfect time because the plan indicated "celebratory explosions will be going off at this time so explosions will be less likely to be noticed."

The eight-page manually written document, named "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," suggested that more targets could be added. The sites were categorized as premises and buildings owned by two distinct firms connected with operations related to interstate and foreign commerce.

Future Plots and Evidence Seized

Court documents also revealed that two people in the faction had planned subsequent strikes aimed at ICE agents personnel and cars with explosives in 2026. One individual according to the complaint commented that such attacks "would take some of them out and intimidate the rest of them."

The plotting were allegedly discussed both at an in-person meeting in Los Angeles and through an encrypted communication application.

Images included in the legal filings show a desert campsite with what authorities described as explosives-manufacturing components strewn across plastic folding tables.

The complaint states that the group "carried bomb-making components to the campsite, including assorted sizes of tubes, suspected an oxidizer, charcoal briquettes, powdered charcoal, another chemical, and items to be used as igniters, among others."

The plan also included steps on how to manufacture the explosives and how to prevent leaving evidence that could be linked back to the individuals. The accused had recently acquired precursor chemicals and other items, with purchases from online retailers.

Operation and Aftermath

The FBI took action last week when the suspects were practicing the attack in the desert near a California town. "They owned everything they needed to construct an working explosive device at that location," the prosecutor said.

During carried out search warrants, authorities allegedly located flyers for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one individual's dwelling that advocated "America Must Fall", and "Eliminate ICE". At another individual's home, police found a duplicate of the comprehensive attack blueprint.

Those arrested were arrested peacefully. They were set to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.