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US authorities stated on Monday that they had successfully thwarted a comprehensive scheme to set off explosive devices at numerous locations run by two corporate businesses on New Year's Eve in the LA region. The move followed the arrest of suspects part of an radical faction espousing anti-system and anti-establishment views.

Suspects Apprehended During Isolated Rehearsal

The four people were taken into custody last Friday in the remote area located east of Los Angeles while they were allegedly practicing their proposed operation. Prosecutors displayed aerial monitoring footage to the media, which depicted the individuals transporting a sizeable dark device to a table. Officials noted that the arrests occurred ahead of the suspects could assemble a working bomb.

Names of the Accused Made Public

As per the public court documents, the four people named are Carroll, aged 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. The group are said to be from the Los Angeles area.

Alleged Motivation and Connections

While prosecutors did not explicitly outline a reason, they stated the group are adherents of a splinter group called the Turtle Island Liberation Front. The group according to documents calls for "workers to revolt and combat against corporate power," according to the criminal complaint.

Each suspect is charged with involve conspiracy and owning a explosive. Officials indicated that further counts are expected in the next few weeks.

Elements of the Supposed "The Midnight Sun Plan"

Prosecutors said that one of the suspects had drafted a detailed blueprint last month to bomb multiple business locations across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The intended sites were described as "Amazon-type" fulfillment hubs.

"The bomb plot was specific," a prosecutor stated. "It contained detailed directions to build IEDs … and named several targets across Orange County and Los Angeles."

According to the case and the complaint, the plot called for positioning bags containing complex explosive devices that were planned to be detonated at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at 5 locations. New Year's Eve was seen as an opportune time as the scheme noted "pyrotechnics will be going off at this time so blast noises will be harder to be detected."

The handwritten, eight-page manually written plan, called "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," stated that more targets could be incorporated. The sites were categorized as premises and buildings operated by two different corporations connected with operations affecting commerce.

Future Schemes and Materials Uncovered

Court documents also revealed that two individuals in the group had talked about later attacks focusing on ICE agents agents and transport with pipe bombs in 2026. One individual reportedly noted that such strikes "would take some of them out and frighten the rest of them."

Such discussions were allegedly planned both at an in-person gathering in Los Angeles and through an encrypted messaging app.

Photos included in the court documents show a isolated site with what investigators identified as IED-construction items scattered on plastic folding tables.

Official documents states that the individuals "all brought bomb-making components to the site, including various sizes of plastic pipes, believed to be a chemical compound, fuel, fuel powder, another chemical, and material to be used as fuses, and more."

The scheme also contained guidance on how to build the bombs and how to not leave behind forensic clues that could be linked back to the faction. The individuals had in the recent past purchased components and other items, with purchases from online retailers.

Operation and Aftermath

The FBI intervened last week when the individuals were running through the strike in the isolated region near a desert community. "They possessed everything they were necessary to build an working explosive device at that location," an official said.

During served searches, investigators allegedly discovered signs for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one individual's dwelling that advocated "America Must Fall", and "Death to ICE". At another accused's residence, police found a copy of the elaborate explosives scheme.

Those arrested were arrested without incident. They were set to make a court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.