At a Glance
- Four suspects arrested for planned New Year’s Eve bomb attacks in Southern California.
- Plot linked to Turtle Island Liberation Front and targeted Amazon-style logistics centers.
- Federal investigators seized bomb-making materials in Mojave Desert on Dec. 12.
- Why it matters: The thwarted plot prevented potential mass casualties on New Year’s Eve.
Federal authorities announced on Monday the arrests of four alleged members of an extremist group suspected of planning coordinated bomb attacks on New Year’s Eve across Southern California. The suspects were apprehended on Dec. 12 in the Mojave Desert while unloading bomb-making materials. The plot, aimed at Amazon-type logistics centers, was disrupted before any explosives could detonate.
Charges and Suspects
The four individuals face federal charges for providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists and for possession of unregistered firearms. Audrey Carroll and Zachary Aaron Page are also charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. The following table summarizes the charges per suspect:
| Suspect | Age | Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Tina Lai | 41 | Providing & attempting to provide material support to terrorists; possession of unregistered firearms |
| Audrey Carroll | 30 | Same two charges; conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction |
| Zachary Aaron Page | 32 | Same two charges; conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction |
| Dante Gaffield | 24 | Same two charges |
Investigation and Arrests
Federal investigators said the plot was thwarted after discovering a Mojave Desert site where the suspects tried to make and test bombs. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated:
> “I think there’s no question that they intended to commit violent acts because in their mind that’s the only way they’re going to effectuate the political changes they wanted to achieve.”
> “We prevented something that actually could have been really bad.”
The suspects were arrested while unloading bomb-making materials from their vehicles, and video footage of the site was released to the public two weeks prior to the arrests.
Key Takeaways
- Four individuals were arrested for a New Year’s Eve bomb plot targeting Amazon-style logistics centers.
- The plot was linked to the Turtle Island Liberation Front and was disrupted before detonation.
- Federal charges include material support to terrorists, possession of unregistered firearms, and weapon-of-mass-destruction conspiracy for two of the suspects.
The arrests underscore the federal government’s ongoing efforts to prevent extremist attacks and protect critical infrastructure in Southern California.
