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Law enforcement officials announced on Monday that they had successfully thwarted a comprehensive scheme to explode bombs at several facilities belonging to two corporate businesses on New Year's Eve in Southern California. The move followed the detainment of suspects part of an radical group espousing anti-system and anti-authority ideologies.

Suspects Detained During Isolated Rehearsal

Four individuals were arrested last Friday in the remote area located east of Los Angeles as they were allegedly practicing their proposed operation. Federal attorneys displayed overhead monitoring images to reporters, that depicted the individuals transporting a sizeable black object to a workspace. Authorities emphasized that the apprehensions occurred prior to the suspects could assemble a fully functional IED.

Identities of the Suspects Disclosed

As per the submitted court documents, the four suspects identified are Carroll, aged 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32 years old; Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, who is 41. All four are understood to be from the Los Angeles area.

Suspected Motivation and Ties

Although authorities did not directly detail a reason, they said the suspects are adherents of a splinter group called the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This organization according to documents advocates for "the working class to rise up and resist against capitalism," according to the criminal complaint.

They face comprise plotting and possession of a bomb. The government stated that further accusations are likely in the weeks ahead.

Particulars of the Alleged "Operation Midnight Sun"

Authorities revealed that one of the suspects had created a step-by-step plan last month to bomb five or more business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The locations were characterized as "like Amazon" logistical warehouses.

"The bomb plot was explicit," a prosecutor said. "It contained step-by-step instructions to make bombs … and listed multiple sites across Orange County and Los Angeles."

According to the case and the complaint, the scheme involved positioning rucksacks containing sophisticated explosive devices that were set to be detonated at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at five locations. New Year's Eve was chosen as an ideal time since the plan stated "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so detonations will be harder to be noticed."

An eight-page handwritten blueprint, named "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," stated that further sites could be included. The facilities were identified as property and operations owned by two separate firms tied to operations related to national and international trade.

Additional Plots and Materials Uncovered

The criminal complaint also indicated that two members in the group had planned later strikes targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and cars with IEDs in 2026. One suspect allegedly said that such actions "would eliminate some and intimidate the rest of them."

The plotting were allegedly discussed both at an physical gathering in Los Angeles and through an secure communication application.

Images featured in the court documents reveal a remote camp with what investigators described as explosives-manufacturing materials strewn across plastic folding tables.

Official documents notes that the individuals "carried explosive materials to the site, among them different sizes of tubes, identified as an oxidizer, charcoal briquettes, charcoal powder, another chemical, and material to be used as igniters, among others."

The scheme also included directions on how to build the explosives and how to not leave behind evidence that could be traced back to the individuals. The accused had not long ago acquired components and other items, via purchases from online retailers.

Apprehension and Aftermath

Authorities intervened last week while the individuals were rehearsing the operation in the desert near Twentynine Palms. "They owned all the components they needed to build an functional explosive device at that site," the prosecutor commented.

During served search warrants, investigators allegedly discovered posters for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one accused's dwelling that demanded "Down with America", and "Death to ICE". At another accused's apartment, police found a copy of the comprehensive explosives scheme.

The individuals were detained peacefully. They were set to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.