In a chilling plan to disrupt the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations, federal authorities have uncovered a dangerous conspiracy in Southern California.

According to a report by the Washington Examiner, four individuals linked to a far-left, anti-capitalist group have been indicted on multiple charges, including terrorism-related felonies. The suspects allegedly plotted to detonate bombs targeting businesses across the region on December 31, 2025.

The defendants, identified as Audrey Illeene Carroll, Zachary Aaron Page, Dante James Anthony-Gaffield, and Tina Lai, face serious accusations such as providing material support to terrorists and possessing unregistered firearms. Carroll and Page are also charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. Their arraignments are scheduled for early January 2026 in a federal court in downtown Los Angeles.

Alleged Ties to Radical Group

The indictment reveals that the four suspects are associated with the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), a group known for its anti-government and anti-capitalist stance. They reportedly belong to a more extreme faction within TILF, communicating through an encrypted chat group named “Order of the Black Lotus.”

Federal prosecutors allege that Carroll took a leading role by drafting an eight-page document titled “Operation Midnight Sun” in November 2025. This plan outlined a coordinated bombing attack on technology and logistics firms in Southern California.

The targets were chosen with the intent to “completely pulverize” them, as described in the detailed instructions for building explosives and avoiding detection. Carroll allegedly recruited Page, Gaffield, and Lai to execute this violent scheme.

Disturbing Messages and Plans

Encrypted communications between the suspects revealed their radical intentions, with Page sending a message on November 29, 2025, expressing hostility toward multiple entities. The message included phrases like “death to the USA” and condemnation of colonizers.

In response, Carroll reinforced the sentiment by stating, “Death to them all, burn it all down,” accompanied by expressive emojis. These exchanges highlighted the group’s shared extremist ideology and intent to cause harm.

The indictment further details plans beyond the New Year’s Eve attack, including targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with firearms and pipe bombs. Carroll and Page allegedly discussed ways to intimidate and harm federal personnel.

Testing Explosives in the Desert

Throughout early December 2025, the group gathered materials such as potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal, and pipes to construct bombs. On December 12, they traveled to the Mojave Desert to test their explosive devices.

The FBI intervened before the suspects could complete functional bombs, arresting them at the scene. This timely action by law enforcement potentially averted a catastrophic event planned for the end of the year.

The investigation involved the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with support from local agencies like the Los Angeles Police Department and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Additional assistance came from FBI offices in Boston, Buffalo, and New Orleans.

Lessons to Learn

1. Stay alert to ideological extremism in your community. Even well-intentioned advocacy can attract individuals willing to turn to violence. It's important to understand the signs of radicalization and know where to report suspicious behavior.

2. Report suspicious activity promptly. Community tips can lead to investigations that prevent catastrophes. If you see individuals purchasing materials that could be used for bomb-making or speaking about violent plots, it’s crucial to contact law enforcement immediately.

3. Understand that threats can arise in unexpected ways. Whether through encrypted chats or remote desert meetings, criminal planning isn't always visible. While preventative steps help, we must acknowledge that crime can happen to anyone, and blame should never be placed on potential victims.

Why This Story Matters

This case underscores the ongoing threat posed by domestic extremist groups operating under the banner of ideological causes. It also highlights the ability of law enforcement agencies to uncover and disrupt potential attacks before they are carried out. Finally, it reminds communities to remain vigilant and take signs of extremist violence seriously.

Authorities say a tragic act of domestic terrorism was narrowly avoided after federal agents intercepted and arrested four suspected members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front just weeks before they allegedly planned to bomb various targets across Los Angeles using improvised explosive devices on New Year’s Eve. The indictment paints a picture of a group driven by extremist views and intent on acts of violence against infrastructure and federal officers. The suspects remain in custody, their actions under continued investigation as officials monitor for further threats.