BREAKING: Far-left extremists arrested for LA NYE terror plot planned to test bombs in Mojave Desert

The four people arrested for plotting a New Year’s Eve terror plot in Los Angeles were taken into custody on December 12 as they were setting up to test improvised explosives in the Mojave Desert, officials announced on Monday. The four were described as being part of a "far-left anti-government domestic terror cell" known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. 

"As part of the plan, the four defendants planned to build test bombs in the Mojave Desert," said Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli. In preparation for the plan, he said, "the co-conspirators purchased multiple pieces of bomb-making materials and discussed their travel plans to the desert. Last Friday, December 12, the defendants took a significant step to carry out their plans. They traveled to the remote campsite… and they began unloading their bomb-making materials to assemble and test the bombs. They had everything they needed to make an operational bomb at that location, and they were subsequently arrested by the FBI before they could build a functional device."

 

Arrested were Audrey Carroll, 30; Zachary Page, 32; Dante Garfield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41, all from the Los Angeles area. Each has been charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device, and authorities said more charges are expected. They were described as "radical anti-government members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, which, according to their own social media, is an anti-capitalist, anti-government movement that calls for their associates to rise up and fight back against capitalism," said Essayli. 

One of the leaders, Carroll, "helped organize an even more radical faction of the group called the Order of the Black Lotus. Each of the defendants charged today was also a member of the Order of the Black Lotus," he continued. 

In November, Carroll allegedly created a "detailed bombing plot to use explosive devices to attack five or more locations across Southern California on this upcoming New Year’s Eve." The locations were described as "logistics centers." Carroll and Page allegedly led the effort to build the bombs and recruited others.

"Carroll’s bomb plot was explicit," said Essayli. "It included step-by-step instructions to build IEDs or improvised explosive devices, and listed multiple targets across Orange County and Los Angeles. Carroll also made clear her desires. She said, 'what we are doing would be considered a terrorist act.' Carroll and Page also discussed plans for follow-up attacks after their bombings, which included plans to target ICE agents and vehicles with pipe bombs."

During a search warrant carried out at Carroll’s residence, law enforcement found "multiple posters and materials associated with Turtle Island Liberation Front, including posters stating 'death to America, long live Turtle Island and Palestine,' and 'death to ICE, Turtle Island Liberation Front."