Alleged New Year’s Eve bombing plot by "Turtle Island Liberation Front" stopped

by Michael Tellez. KMPH FOX 26 Fresno

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, California (FOX26) — Federal agents say they stopped a planned New Year’s Eve bombing after arresting four Southern California residents in the Mojave Desert last week.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, the group was allegedly tied to an anti-capitalist, antigovernmental organization called the “Turtle Island Liberation Front”.

The suspects were preparing homemade explosive devices they intended to detonate at multiple U.S. company locations right at midnight.

Officials say the suspects had gathered bomb-making materials and were testing components in the desert when the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force moved in and arrested them.

Local and federal leaders praised the quick coordination, saying the arrests likely prevented a major attack during holiday celebrations.  They have been identified as:

Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30, a.k.a. “Asiginaak,” of South Los Angeles;

Zachary Aaron Page, 32, a.k.a. “AK,” of Torrance;

Dante Gaffield, 24, a.k.a. “Nomad,” of South Los Angeles; and

Tina Lai, 41, a.k.a. “Kickwhere,” of Glendale.

The four defendants made their initial appearances on Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

All four defendants remain in federal custody and will be arraigned in early January 2026.