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Law enforcement officials stated on Monday that they had managed to foil a comprehensive plot to detonate explosive devices at multiple sites operated by two American companies on New Year's Eve in the LA region. The move followed the detainment of people part of an extremist offshoot promoting anti-system and anti-government views.

Suspects Apprehended During Isolated Rehearsal

A quartet of individuals were detained last Friday in the Mojave Desert situated east of Los Angeles at the time they were according to officials running through their planned strike. Federal attorneys displayed from above monitoring video to reporters, that showed the suspects carrying a sizeable dark device to a workspace. Law enforcement noted that the arrests were made ahead of the individuals could assemble a operational bomb.

Names of the Suspects Disclosed

Based on the public court documents, the four suspects listed are Carroll, aged 30; Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Lai, 41. The group are said to be from the greater Los Angeles region.

Suspected Motive and Connections

While officials did not clearly outline a rationale, they indicated the group are members of a faction known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group according to documents calls for "laborers to revolt and fight back against capitalism," as per the court papers.

Each suspect is charged with include conspiracy to commit a crime and having a bomb. Prosecutors noted that additional counts are expected in the weeks ahead.

Elements of the Reported "Operation Midnight Sun"

Authorities said that one of the suspects had devised a step-by-step blueprint last month to attack five or more corporate facilities across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The locations were characterized as "similar to Amazon" logistical centers.

"The bomb plot was explicit," an official said. "It included step-by-step instructions to make bombs … and named numerous sites across Orange county and Los Angeles."

As per the case and court documents, the scheme called for positioning backpacks packed with sophisticated IEDs that were planned to be set off at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at five locations. New Year's Eve was identified as an ideal time because the plan stated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so explosions will be more difficult to be heard."

The handwritten, eight-page manually written document, named "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," stated that more sites could be added. The facilities were identified as assets and buildings operated by two distinct corporations connected with activities related to interstate and foreign commerce.

Additional Plots and Evidence Found

The criminal complaint also stated that two people in the group had discussed future strikes aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and cars with IEDs in 2026. One accused according to the complaint noted that such actions "would kill some and intimidate the rest of them."

The plotting were allegedly discussed both at an face-to-face gathering in Los Angeles and through an secure digital platform.

Photos contained in the case file show a desert campsite with what authorities said were bomb-making components strewn across makeshift work surfaces.

The complaint details that the group "each brought bomb-making components to the campsite, among them different sizes of PVC pipes, suspected potassium nitrate, fuel, fuel powder, powdered sulfur, and material to be used as igniters, and more."

Instructions also included guidance on how to construct the devices and how to not leave behind traces that could be traced back to the group. The suspects had in the recent past acquired components and other goods, with buys from e-commerce sites.

Arrest and Follow-up

Authorities intervened last week as the individuals were running through the strike in the remote area near a California town. "They possessed all the components they needed to construct an operational explosive device at that place," the attorney said.

In the course of carried out raids, authorities reportedly discovered flyers for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one suspect's residence that demanded "Death to America", and "Eliminate ICE". At another individual's home, police discovered a copy of the comprehensive attack blueprint.

The individuals were taken into custody without incident. They were set to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.