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US authorities announced on Monday that they had managed to foil a comprehensive plan to detonate explosive devices at several locations operated by two American companies on New Year's Eve in the southern part of the state. The operation resulted from the arrest of people linked to an radical group promoting anti-system and anti-establishment beliefs.

Individuals Detained During Isolated Dry Run

Four individuals were arrested last Friday in the desert region located east of Los Angeles at the time they were according to officials practicing their planned strike. Prosecutors displayed aerial monitoring images to reporters, that showed the suspects carrying a large dark object to a workspace. Officials emphasized that the arrests took place prior to the individuals could put together a fully functional explosive device.

Identities of the Those Charged Made Public

As per the public court documents, the four suspects listed are a 30-year-old named Audrey Illeene Carroll; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. The group are understood to be from the Los Angeles vicinity.

Reported Driving Force and Ties

Although authorities did not explicitly detail a motive, they stated the individuals are part of a faction known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group reportedly urges "laborers to rise up and fight back against capitalism," according to the court papers.

They face comprise conspiracy and having a explosive. Officials stated that more accusations are anticipated in the coming weeks.

Details of the Reported "Midnight Sun Operation"

Prosecutors said that one of the individuals had created a meticulous scheme last month to target multiple corporate facilities across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The intended sites were characterized as "like Amazon" logistical hubs.

"The bomb plot was explicit," an official said. "It included a precise guide to construct explosive devices … and named multiple sites across Orange county and Los Angeles."

Based on the investigation and the complaint, the scheme called for positioning backpacks packed with sophisticated pipe bombs that were planned to be detonated all at once at midnight on New Year's Eve at 5 locations. New Year's Eve was identified as an perfect time as the document noted "celebratory explosions will be going off at this time so detonations will be more difficult to be detected."

An eight-page handwritten plan, named "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," stated that more sites could be added. The sites were described as premises and buildings run by two different companies tied to business affecting interstate and foreign commerce.

Future Schemes and Evidence Seized

The investigation also indicated that two people in the group had discussed later attacks targeting immigration enforcement officers and transport with IEDs in 2026. One accused reportedly commented that such actions "would eliminate some and intimidate the rest of them."

These plans were reportedly talked over both at an physical assembly in Los Angeles and through an private messaging app.

Images featured in the case file depict a desert campsite with what investigators described as IED-construction components laid out on plastic folding tables.

The complaint details that the group "all brought IED parts to the location, among them assorted sizes of tubes, identified as potassium nitrate, fuel, fuel powder, powdered sulfur, and material to be used as igniters, and more."

The plan also included directions on how to manufacture the devices and how to prevent leaving traces that could be traced back to the faction. The individuals had in the recent past purchased precursor chemicals and other items, with purchases from online retailers.

Apprehension and Follow-up

The FBI intervened last week while the individuals were practicing the operation in the remote area near a California town. "They owned everything they needed to build an functional IED at that site," the attorney commented.

As part of executed raids, officials reportedly located flyers for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one accused's home that demanded "Death to America", and "ICE Must Go". At another suspect's home, police located a version of the comprehensive explosives scheme.

Those arrested were detained without incident. They were due to make a court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.