Four Arrested in California as Bomb Plot Targeting New Year’s Eve Uncovered

In a significant counterterrorism operation, U.S. federal agents apprehended four individuals suspected of planning coordinated bomb attacks in Southern California ahead of New Year’s Eve. This proactive action potentially thwarted a devastating event aimed at major business hubs during the festive period.

The suspects were detained on Friday in the Mojave Desert, east of Los Angeles, where they were reportedly rehearsing their attack plans. Surveillance footage captured them engaging in suspicious activities involving materials that were likely to be used in their bomb-making efforts before law enforcement intervened. Authorities confirmed that these arrests occurred prior to the suspects' ability to create an operational explosive device.

Those arrested include Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30, Zachary Aaron Page, 32, Dante Gaffield, 24, and Tina Lai, 41, all residents of the Los Angeles area. Investigators linked the group to extremist beliefs opposing government and capitalist institutions.

The suspects were associated with a faction promoting decolonization, tribal sovereignty, and resistance against capitalistic structures. Evidence found at their desert campsite included flyers echoing political slogans tied to global protest movements.

Further investigations revealed that Carroll drafted a meticulous handwritten agenda last month detailing attacks on at least five business sites across Southern California. The targeted entities comprised large distribution centers akin to prominent online retail warehouses, with links to interstate and international trade.

The operation, named “Operation Midnight Sun,” reportedly included guidelines for constructing explosive devices and executing simultaneous detonations at midnight on New Year’s Eve, strategically chosen to coincide with fireworks displays to obscure the explosions' sounds.

The proposed plan involved strategically placing backpacks containing complex pipe bombs at various locations, with indications for potentially expanding the target list. Conversations regarding the plan occurred both face-to-face and via encrypted messaging platforms, as outlined in court documents.

Investigators uncovered discussions among the group about future attacks scheduled for 2026, aiming at immigration enforcement agents with similar explosive tactics.

During law enforcement searches, bomb-making materials such as PVC pipes, suspected chemical compounds, charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and fuse-related items were found at the suspects’ campsite. The group had reportedly acquired precursor chemicals and additional supplies online shortly before their arrest.

Evidence gathered during searches of the suspects’ residences revealed extremist propaganda and copies of their bomb plan. The documents included violent slogans directed against government entities.

Law enforcement agencies collaborated efficiently to disrupt the plot, ensuring that the arrests occurred smoothly. Officials emphasized that the suspects possessed sufficient materials to fabricate functional explosives, highlighting the real nature of the threat.

All four individuals face charges for conspiracy and possession of a destructive device, with additional charges anticipated as the investigation advances. They are slated to appear in a Los Angeles court on Monday.

Authorities lauded the operation's success as a crucial measure in averting a potential mass-casualty incident during one of the year’s busiest celebrations. The investigation remains active, with ongoing efforts to monitor potential extremist threats to ensure public safety.