Federal Authorities Foil New Year's Eve Terror Plot in Southern California

Federal authorities announced Monday they successfully thwarted a terrorist plot targeting multiple US companies in Southern California on New Year's Eve, arresting four suspects who were allegedly planning coordinated bombing attacks. The four defendants - Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41 - were arrested Friday in the Mojave Desert east of Los Angeles while rehearsing their planned attacks, according to First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli. During a news conference Monday, officials revealed they had been conducting surveillance on the group and showed reporters aerial footage of the suspects moving a large black object in the desert to a table. Authorities were able to make the arrests before the suspects assembled a functional explosive device. "All of the defendants are from the Los Angeles area and are all members of the radical, anti-government members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front," Essayli said during the press conference. Officials described the group as an offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, characterized as a far-left, pro-Palestinian, anti-government organization. The suspects were charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device in a federal criminal complaint filed Friday in US District Court for the Central District of California. Essayli indicated that additional charges are expected as the investigation continues. While officials did not provide specific details about the targeted companies or describe a clear motive, they characterized the group as extremist anti-capitalist and anti-government. The plot involved bombing multiple sites of two US companies across Southern California, timed to coincide with New Year's Eve celebrations. The arrests represent a significant counterterrorism success, with federal authorities intervening before the suspects could carry out their planned attacks. The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic extremist groups and their potential for violence against civilian targets. The investigation remains active, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests or charges as they continue to examine the scope of the alleged conspiracy.