Four individuals have been formally charged in the United States over an alleged plot to carry out a series of bomb attacks across southern California on New Year's Eve.
The Alleged Plot and Arrests
Federal authorities stated that the four suspects are allegedly part of an extremist group suspected of planning coordinated attacks. The plot reportedly involved planting explosive devices at five separate locations, targeting two US companies at midnight on 31 December in the Los Angeles region.
The group was apprehended last week in Lucerne Valley, a desert city situated east of Los Angeles. According to the criminal complaint, the defendants are said to be members of an offshoot of a pro-Palestinian group known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front.
Targets and Charges
Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that, in addition to the alleged plan to detonate bombs at multiple targets starting on New Year's Eve, the group also intended to target Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and their vehicles.
The four defendants named in the official complaint are Audrey Illeene Carroll, Zachary Aaron Page, Dante Gaffield, and Tina Lai. The case against them is based in part on a sworn statement within the complaint.
Operation Midnight Details
According to the legal documents, in November, Audrey Illeene Carroll is alleged to have shown an eight-page handwritten document to a paid confidential source. This document, which described the bomb plot in detail, was titled "Operation Midnight".
The FBI, led by Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis, has been leading the investigation. The swift action by authorities is believed to have prevented a potentially catastrophic event during the New Year celebrations.
This remains a developing story as federal prosecutors continue to build their case against the accused individuals.
