In a significant law enforcement operation, the FBI, in conjunction with Los Angeles authorities, apprehended four members of a radical left-wing group identified as the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), thereby averting a series of planned bombings on New Year's Eve. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the prevention of what he termed a "credible and imminent threat" to the public, underscoring the continuing danger posed by domestic extremist networks.
"This was an incredible effort by our U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the @FBI to ensure Americans can live in peace." – Attorney General Pam Bondi
The individuals taken into custody were Audrey Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. They were detained in the Mojave Desert while reportedly assembling explosive devices, as reported by KTLA 5. Authorities disclosed that the group aimed to execute simultaneous bombings at various commercial and governmental locations across Southern California.
Law enforcement officials stated that the operation was intercepted before the bombs could be deployed, which could have resulted in catastrophic consequences. The organization, characterized by anti-government, anti-capitalist, and pro-Palestinian beliefs, had a subgroup called "Order of the Black Lotus," allegedly led by Carroll, who is accused of orchestrating the plot, recruiting accomplices, and securing materials for bomb-making.
Detailed written instructions for constructing and deploying explosives were supposedly found in the suspects' homes, according to CBS News. The group also purportedly contemplated further assaults on federal immigration personnel and vehicles. A fifth individual, arrested in New Orleans, is associated with TILF but was not directly connected to the California plot, representing another neutralized threat.
In conjunction with the arrests, the FBI and SWAT teams executed coordinated search warrants in Louisiana and Massachusetts, aiming to gather evidence and identify additional members of the network. Surveillance footage is said to have captured the suspects testing bomb components in a remote desert area prior to their arrest.
Attorney General Pam Bondi lauded the counterterrorism operation, highlighting the collaboration between the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the FBI in maintaining peace. TILF's social media presence suggests a commitment to "liberation through decolonization and tribal sovereignty," with a supportive stance on Palestinian causes.
The case, titled "Operation Verdant Force," is ongoing, with additional charges anticipated. The swift intervention by authorities has been praised by community leaders as decisive action against a severe domestic terror threat. The FBI and Department of Justice officials view this case as a deterrent to other extremist groups considering coordinated attacks.
The investigation's progress will likely remain a subject of heightened attention as officials continue to monitor extremist groups nationwide to thwart similar threats.
