FBI Arrested Four Over Southern California New Year’s Bomb Plot/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Federal agents arrested four people accused of plotting New Year’s Eve attacks targeting logistics centers in Southern California. The suspects, part of an anti-capitalist extremist group, were testing explosives in the desert when captured. Prosecutors say they planned coordinated bombings and future attacks against federal agents.
Southern California Bomb Plot Quick Looks
- Four individuals charged with conspiracy and bomb possession
- Plot aimed at multiple “Amazon-type” logistic centers
- Suspects linked to extremist Turtle Island Liberation Front
- Arrests made during desert explosives test east of Los Angeles
- Group planned additional attacks in 2026, documents say
- Homemade bomb materials found at campsite
- FBI intervened before bombs could be deployed on New Year’s Eve
- Suspects allegedly used encrypted apps and held physical meetings
FBI Arrested Four Over Southern California New Year’s Bomb Plot
Deep Look
Federal authorities say they have disrupted a planned New Year’s Eve bombing campaign in Southern California, charging four individuals linked to an extremist anti-government and anti-capitalist group. The arrests, made last Friday, occurred as the suspects were conducting explosives tests in a remote desert area east of Los Angeles.
At a press briefing on Monday, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the suspects—Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41—were apprehended following surveillance and an active investigation. All four are Los Angeles-area residents and now face charges including conspiracy to commit violence and possession of destructive devices.
Authorities said the group was affiliated with an offshoot of a pro-Palestinian group known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. While officials did not describe a clear motive, they stated that the suspects held anti-capitalist and anti-government views and had targeted major commercial facilities.
According to prosecutors, Carroll developed an elaborate plan to bomb at least five sites in Southern California on December 31. While specific company names were withheld for security reasons, officials likened the intended targets to “Amazon-type” logistics and distribution hubs located in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
“Carroll’s bomb plot was explicit,” Essayli told reporters. “It outlined step-by-step instructions for constructing improvised explosive devices and identified multiple logistical centers across Southern California as targets.”
In addition to the planned New Year’s Eve attacks, court filings reveal that some members of the group had discussed carrying out further attacks in 2026. These included proposals to use pipe bombs against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and government vehicles. Prosecutors cited statements from Carroll during the investigation, including one that expressed the intent to “take some of them out and scare the rest.”
The group reportedly coordinated through encrypted messaging apps and also held in-person meetings in Los Angeles to refine their plans. Federal authorities began tracking their activity closely as they gathered components and tested homemade explosives in the desert.
Photographic evidence from the investigation shows a makeshift bomb-making setup at a campsite. Items seized included PVC pipes, fuses, potassium nitrate, sulfur powder, charcoal, and other common materials used in constructing improvised explosives.
Essayli confirmed that the suspects were in possession of all the necessary components to construct operational explosive devices at the time of their arrest.
“They weren’t just talking,” he said. “They had all the tools and materials in place to carry out an attack.”
Officials released aerial surveillance footage showing the suspects moving a large object at their desert test site shortly before agents intervened. The footage, part of the federal evidence, underscores what authorities described as a narrowly avoided domestic terror incident.
The four individuals were scheduled to make their initial court appearances Monday afternoon in Los Angeles. It is not yet known whether they have retained legal representation. The Associated Press reported that attempts to contact their families were unsuccessful.
The Department of Justice and FBI have emphasized the ongoing threat of homegrown extremism in the United States, particularly from loosely organized ideological groups that use encrypted communication and decentralized planning to avoid detection.
This case, authorities say, serves as a stark reminder of the need for continued vigilance and proactive counterterrorism effortsespecially during high-profile holidays and events. Essayli commended federal agents for intervening before the plot could be executed, potentially saving lives and preventing widespread chaos.
More on US News
Comments are closed.