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Law enforcement officials stated on Monday that they had effectively disrupted a elaborate plot to explode IEDs at multiple locations belonging to two corporate businesses on New Year's Eve in the LA region. This action came after the arrest of individuals associated with an militant group espousing anti-capitalist and anti-establishment ideologies.

Individuals Detained During Desert Dry Run

A quartet of individuals were arrested last Friday in the remote area located east of Los Angeles at the time they were allegedly running through their proposed strike. Federal attorneys displayed aerial reconnaissance images to the media, which depicted the suspects moving a large obscure device to a table. Officials noted that the apprehensions took place prior to the individuals could assemble a operational IED.

Identities of the Accused Made Public

According to the filed court documents, the four individuals named are Carroll, aged 30; Page, 32; 24-year-old Dante Gaffield; and Lai, 41. The group are understood to be from the LA region.

Alleged Motivation and Connections

Although prosecutors did not clearly detail a rationale, they said the group are members of a faction known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. This organization reportedly calls for "laborers to rise up and combat against capitalism," according to the criminal complaint.

Each suspect is charged with involve plotting and possession of a bomb. Prosecutors indicated that more counts are likely in the weeks ahead.

Details of the Supposed "Operation Midnight Sun"

Officials revealed that one of the accused had created a meticulous plan last month to bomb at least five commercial sites across Southern California on New Year's Eve. The intended sites were characterized as "like Amazon" fulfillment hubs.

"This scheme was explicit," a prosecutor said. "It contained a precise guide to build IEDs … and identified multiple sites across Orange county and Los Angeles."

As per the investigation and the complaint, the plan involved placing backpacks filled with intricate explosive devices that were set to be detonated at the same time at midnight on New Year's Eve at several locations. New Year's Eve was identified as an ideal time since the plan noted "fireworks will be going off at this time so detonations will be more difficult to be heard."

The eight-page manually written document, named "OPERATION MIDNIGHT SUN," suggested that more locations could be included. The locations were described as premises and operations run by two distinct corporations tied to activities affecting commerce.

Future Schemes and Evidence Seized

The investigation also stated that two people in the group had talked about subsequent strikes aimed at ICE agents officers and transport with explosives in 2026. One individual according to the complaint said that such actions "would kill some and scare the rest of them."

Such discussions were reportedly planned both at an face-to-face assembly in Los Angeles and through an secure digital platform.

Pictures contained in the court documents reveal a remote camp with what officials described as explosives-manufacturing materials strewn across makeshift work surfaces.

Official documents details that the individuals "carried explosive materials to the site, among them different sizes of plastic pipes, suspected a chemical compound, charcoal briquettes, fuel powder, powdered sulfur, and components to be used as fuses, among others."

The scheme also contained steps on how to build the bombs and how to not leave behind forensic clues that could be connected back to the individuals. The individuals had in the recent past obtained components and other materials, via buys from online retailers.

Operation and Follow-up

The FBI moved in last week as the group were practicing the operation in the remote area near a California town. "They owned every item they needed to build an working explosive device at that location," an official commented.

As part of executed searches, authorities reportedly discovered signs for the Turtle Island Liberation Front at one suspect's residence that called for "Down with America", and "Eliminate ICE". At another individual's residence, police located a duplicate of the elaborate bomb plan.

The individuals were taken into custody without a struggle. They were due to face a judge in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.