By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Los Angeles — The FBI arrested four people accused of plotting coordinated New Year’s Eve bombingstargeting multiple L.A.-area businesses, with testing allegedly conducted in the Mojave Desert. Reuters
- Defendants: Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; Tina Lai, 41 — charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Wall Street Journal+1
- Investigators tie the group to the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) and a Signal chat dubbed “Order of the Black Lotus.” A plan titled “Operation Midnight Sun” outlined targets and tactics. Reuters
- Five prospective targets included sites tied to two U.S. companies and ICE agents/vehicles, according to the sworn complaint. Reuters
- Arrests followed desert bomb-making tests on Dec. 12; components and materials were seized. SFGATE
LOS ANGELES — Federal authorities say they disrupted a coordinated terrorist plot to bomb multiple Los Angeles–area locations on New Year’s Eve, arresting four suspects and seizing explosive components after alleged testing in the Mojave Desert. The Justice Department said the defendants face charges of conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Wall Street Journal+1
According to court filings and officials, the group—identified by investigators as aligned with the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF)—had discussed striking five targets, including facilities tied to two U.S. companies, and attacking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and vehicles. A document titled “Operation Midnight Sun,” attributed to one defendant, laid out logistics, security protocols and tactics, officials said. Reuters
The suspects were named as Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. They were taken into custody after agents observed bomb-making tests in the desert near Lucerne Valley on Dec. 12, then recovered tools and components at the site and in subsequent searches, prosecutors said. SFGATE
Investigators said the defendants coordinated via an encrypted Signal chat labeled “Order of the Black Lotus.” While authorities did not identify the companies targeted, Reuters reported officials described them as “Amazon-type logistics centers.” Officials emphasized the plot was disrupted before any functional devices were completed. Reuters
All four appeared in federal court and were charged via complaint; additional charges are possible as the probe continues, authorities said. The case is being led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Los Angeles with support from other field offices. Wall Street Journal
Officials urged anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact the FBI. No threats to other New Year’s events were immediately announced, and authorities said the arrests reduced the risk to the public. Reuters