Breaking: Four Members of Far-Left Group Arrested for Alleged Terror Plot in California
Federal law enforcement officials announced on Monday the arrest of four individuals associated with a far-left anti-government group, known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front, for allegedly planning a series of bomb attacks across Southern California on New Year’s Eve. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Justice Department and FBI successfully prevented what would have been a “massive and horrific terror plot” in the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles and Orange County.
Details of the Plot and Arrests
The four individuals, identified as Audrey Carroll, Zachary Page, Dante Gaffield, and Tina Lai, were taken into custody on Friday in San Bernardino County, where they were gathering to construct and detonate test explosive devices in the Mojave Desert. Bill Essayli, the leader of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, stated that the suspects had crafted a “detailed, coordinated plot” to bomb two U.S. companies on New Year’s Eve, with the devices set to explode simultaneously at midnight. Essayli described the targets as “logistics centers” but did not disclose their names.
The FBI Director, Kash Patel, noted that the Turtle Island Liberation Front is a “far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group.” The group’s social media presence indicates that they advocate for the “liberation of occupied Turtle Island and liberation of all colonized people across the world,” with Turtle Island being the name used by some Indigenous peoples for North America. The group has also expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments and urged followers to bring Palestinian flags to protests.
Investigation and Charges
According to court documents, the defendants were charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Additional charges may be filed in the coming weeks. The investigation involved surveillance footage, which showed the defendants gathering in the desert to test the bombs. The footage was taken by a surveillance plane, and FBI agents arrested the defendants soon after. An affidavit from the FBI stated that the co-conspirators unloaded bomb-making materials from cars and started to assemble the materials in a table under a tent while in the Mojave Desert.
Federal officials stated that one of the defendants, Carroll, created a “detailed bombing plot” in November and provided it to an FBI source. She allegedly worked with Page to obtain and build the bombs and recruit participants for the plan. The plot included instructions for building the devices and targets across Orange County and Los Angeles. The FBI also found that the defendants discussed plans to target federal immigration agents and vehicles with pipe bombs after the bombings.
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