An alleged New Year’s Eve terrorist plot by an extremist group was foiled by federal authorities in Los Angeles, officials said.
Four suspected members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front – an offshoot of a pro-Palestinian anti-government group – were arrested on suspicion of planning a coordinated bombing in at least five locations in Southern California, the FBI and Los Angeles law enforcement announced Monday.
The suspects were apprehended last week as they drove into the desert east of Los Angeles to test improvised explosive devices, officials said.
The FBI believes it has “thwarted the plot,” but an investigation to identify other potential suspects is underway.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X Sunday that the agencies stopped “far-left” extremists from carrying out “a massive and horrific terrorist plot.”
Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41, face charges including conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device, according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
On Dec. 12, the group traveled to the desert with “precursor chemicals” and was supposed to make bombs with their goods, officials said at a news conference Monday.
A surveillance plane captured footage of their movements and the Los Angeles FBI SWAT team, along with the FBI, responded and arrested the quartet without incident.
The attack plot involved planting explosive devices at locations that targeted two U.S. companies described as logistics hubs at midnight on New Year’s Eve in the Los Angeles area.
The group also allegedly discussed attacking Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and vehicles with pipe bombs in January or February, according to the complaint.
Carroll was quoted as saying: “It would eliminate some and frighten others. »
“That this plot was foiled is a powerful testament to the strength of our unified response,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said, adding that the work of allied agencies “prevented a potential tragedy and reaffirmed our shared commitment to protecting our communities.”
