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Law enforcement officials announced on Monday that they had managed to foil a elaborate plan to explode IEDs at several facilities belonging to two American firms on New Year's Eve in Southern California. The operation came after the apprehension of people linked to an militant group promoting anti-system and anti-authority views.

Those Arrested Detained During Remote Practice

The four suspects were arrested last Friday in the Mojave Desert found east of Los Angeles while they were according to officials rehearsing their proposed operation. Prosecutors displayed from above monitoring video to the media, which captured the suspects transporting a large obscure object to a workspace. Law enforcement emphasized that the detainments occurred prior to the suspects could construct a working bomb.

Details of the Those Charged Made Public

Based on the submitted legal filing, the four individuals named are Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32 years old; 24-year-old Dante Gaffield; and Tina Lai, who is 41. The group are understood to be from the Los Angeles vicinity.

Reported Motivation and Connections

While prosecutors did not directly describe a motive, they indicated the suspects are part of a splinter group dubbed the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This entity allegedly urges "laborers to revolt and fight back against capitalism," according to the court papers.

The charges include conspiracy and having a bomb. Officials stated that further charges are expected in the next few weeks.

Details of the Alleged "The Midnight Sun Plan"

Prosecutors stated that one of the individuals had created a meticulous plan last month to bomb five or more business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The intended sites were characterized as "similar to Amazon" logistical centers.

"The bomb plot was detailed," a prosecutor said. "It included a precise guide to make bombs … and named numerous objectives across Orange county and Los Angeles."

According to the investigation and the complaint, the plan involved planting bags containing complex explosive devices that were scheduled to be set off simultaneously at midnight on New Year's Eve at several places. New Year's Eve was chosen as an opportune time because the plan stated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so blast noises will be harder to be heard."

The eight-page manually written document, called "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," noted that more targets could be included. The sites were categorized as premises and operations owned by two distinct companies tied to activities affecting commerce.

Additional Plans and Evidence Seized

Court documents also revealed that two members in the group had planned later attacks aimed at immigration enforcement agents and transport with IEDs in 2026. One individual according to the complaint noted that such actions "would eliminate some and scare the rest of them."

These plans were reportedly talked over both at an face-to-face gathering in Los Angeles and through an encrypted communication application.

Pictures included in the legal filings show a remote camp with what authorities described as bomb-making components scattered on makeshift work surfaces.

The filing states that the individuals "carried explosive materials to the campsite, such as assorted sizes of tubes, identified as a chemical compound, charcoal briquettes, charcoal powder, another chemical, and components to be used as detonators, and more."

Instructions also included directions on how to manufacture the explosives and how to avoid leaving traces that could be linked back to the individuals. The individuals had recently purchased precursor chemicals and other goods, via acquisitions from major websites.

Operation and Follow-up

The FBI intervened last week while the suspects were practicing the strike in the remote area near a California town. "They owned every item they were necessary to build an operational IED at that place," the prosecutor said.

In the course of executed searches, authorities reportedly discovered signs for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one individual's residence that advocated "America Must Fall", and "Eliminate ICE". At another suspect's residence, police discovered a version of the detailed attack blueprint.

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