Federal agents disrupt bomb plot linked to pro-Palestinian radicals

Federal authorities on Monday said they foiled a planned New Year’s Eve bombing in Los Angeles that was schemed up by members of a pro-Palestinian extremist group.

Charging documents said the four suspects, who are part of the radical Turtle Island Liberation Front, were also looking to attack federal immigration agents by detonating pipe bombs near their vehicles.

“The Turtle Island Liberation Front — a far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group — was preparing to conduct a series of bombings against multiple targets in California beginning on New Year’s Eve. The group also planned to target ICE agents and vehicles,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

Officials named the suspects as Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30; Dante Gaffield, 24; Tina Lai, 41, and 32-year-old Zachary Aaron Page.

They are part of an offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front known as the “Order of the Black Lotus,” officials said. They have all been charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

The FBI said a fifth suspect who is believed to be linked to the rogue group was nabbed in New Orleans for devising their own attack. The individual’s identity wasn’t shared by authorities.

According to court documents, a paid confidential source acquired handwritten instructions last month about the L.A. bomb plot titled “Operation Midnight Sun.”

Ms. Carroll and Mr. Page enlisted help from the other two suspects, the filing said, and traveled to the Mojave Desert with bomb-making materials over the weekend to construct and test the explosives.

Surveillance aircraft observed the group gathering in the desert, and a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT Team and federal agents swooped in to arrest the quartet.

“The successful disruption of this plot is a powerful testament to the strength of our unified response,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said a press conference Monday.

He said the collaboration with federal partners “prevented a potential tragedy and reaffirmed our shared commitment to safeguarding our communities.”

The alleged bombing plot targeted five locations throughout the L.A. area, including two U.S. companies. All of the explosives were set to go off at midnight.