FBI Foils Alleged New Year’s Eve Bomb Plot in Southern California, Exposing Far-Left Extremism Threat

By Michael Phillips | CABayNews

Federal authorities say they have disrupted what they describe as a credible and imminent domestic terrorism plot targeting Southern California on New Year’s Eve — a case that is reigniting debate over the scope and balance of America’s domestic extremism threats.

According to the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, four Los Angeles–area residents were arrested on December 12 in a remote desert area near Twentynine Palms while allegedly assembling improvised explosive devices intended for coordinated bombings across Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The arrests were announced publicly this week after a criminal complaint was unsealed.

What Authorities Say Was Planned

Investigators allege the suspects were plotting to place backpack-style explosive devices at five or more logistics or warehouse facilities belonging to major U.S. companies, with simultaneous detonations planned for midnight on December 31, 2025 — a time when fireworks could mask the blasts.

Federal officials say the plot, referred to by the suspects as “Operation Midnight Sun,” was outlined in an eight-page handwritten document recovered during the investigation. The plan allegedly included detailed instructions on team coordination, avoiding detection, monitoring police scanners, and disposing of evidence.

No devices were successfully completed or deployed, and authorities emphasized that the arrests occurred before the plot could advance further.

Suspects and Charges

The four individuals arrested were identified as:

• Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30
• Zachary Aaron Page, 32
• Dante Gaffield, 24
• Tina Lai, 41

All are charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device, both serious federal felonies. Prosecutors say additional charges may follow as the investigation continues. A fifth individual linked to the same ideological network was also arrested in New Orleans on separate alleged violent-plot charges.

As in all criminal cases, the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Ideology at the Center of the Case

Federal officials say the suspects identified with a radical group calling itself the Turtle Island Liberation Front, or TILF, and a smaller faction known as the “Order of the Black Lotus.”

According to the FBI, the group espoused far-left, anti-government, and anti-capitalist ideology, blending “decolonization” rhetoric with calls for violence. Investigators recovered propaganda materials bearing slogans such as “Death to America” and “Death to ICE,” along with imagery linking their ideology to pro-Palestinian causes.

Authorities also allege the group discussed future attacks targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in 2026.

Law Enforcement Response

Attorney General Pam Bondi called the disrupted plot “massive and horrific,” crediting coordinated FBI and DOJ efforts — including the use of a confidential human source and surveillance — with preventing potential loss of life.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the case represented a “credible, imminent threat” and highlighted it as evidence that domestic terrorism is not confined to one political ideology.

Local agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, assisted in the operation.

Why This Case Matters

For many concerned citizens, the case underscores a point often missing from public discussion: domestic extremism is not a one-sided problem.

For years, federal focus and media attention have centered heavily on right-wing extremism, particularly following January 6. While those threats are real and serious, this case demonstrates that violent radicalization also exists on the far left — and can be just as dangerous when it crosses from rhetoric into action.

It also raises questions about how extremist ideologies can hide behind activist language until they escalate into violence, and whether law enforcement and policymakers are applying equal scrutiny across the ideological spectrum.

An Ongoing Investigation

Federal officials stress the investigation remains active, with potential additional suspects or related plots still under review. Authorities say there is no evidence the public was ever in immediate danger, but they caution that vigilance remains essential.

For Southern Californians heading into the holidays, the case is both a reminder of the threats that exist — and of the importance of proactive law enforcement efforts that intervene before tragedy strikes.

CABayNews will continue to follow developments as court proceedings unfold and more details become public.