This week, US authorities were able to successfully disrupt a planned domestic terror attack. This assault hit five different sites in California start and including properties tied to key supply chain enterprises. Authorities arrested four members of a far-left organization, Antifa, in Lucerne Valley. Atop the Colorado River sits California’s only desert metropolis, located just east of Los Angeles. The suspects had intended to detonate explosives packed into gym bags at these sites. They planned the attack for midnight New Year’s Eve.
The story emerged through a mix of good intelligence and electronic communications tracking. Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30, Zachary Aaron Page, 32, and Dante Gaffield, 24, along with Tina Lai, 41, are charged with second-degree murder. They are being charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Behind the scenes, though, they had all joined a private Signal group chat dubbed “Order of the Black Lotus.” In that private transatlantic chat, they laid out their strategy.
Details of the Plot
The bomb plot was elaborately detailed in a step-by-step eight-page handwritten proposal that he called “Operation Midnight Sun.” Bilal Essayli, the first assistant US attorney for central California, laid out the gambit to go after “Amazon-type logistics centers.” These regional economic drivers are essential to our nation’s economy and overall prosperity.
Former Assemblyman Bilal Essayli reminded everyone how critical it was to disrupt that story before any buildings were destroyed or lives taken. He went on, “this is by no means the end of our work. This declaration further demonstrates law enforcement’s dedication to fighting threats posed by extremist groups.
In a more direct statement, he remarked, “I am going to be blunt: This is not an isolated incident,” highlighting the need for vigilance against similar threats in the future. The FBI’s Akil Davis further confirmed that “these bombs were to blow up at the same time on midnight this New Year’s Eve,” underscoring the serious nature of the defendants’ intentions.
The Arrest and Group Background
The suspects were apprehended on the scene during a high-risk, SWAT-style operation in Lucerne Valley. Authorities indicated that their affiliation with the “Turtle Island Liberation Front,” described by Attorney-General Pam Bondi as a “far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group,” played a significant role in their motivations.
Audrey Illeene Carroll reportedly expressed a desire to instill fear among their targets, stating, “That would take some of them out and scare the rest of them.” This assertion reflects the ideological motivations behind the defendants’ actions on a larger, national scale.
“Jewish communities are being forced to confront a threat that is persistent, adaptive and, as is evident yet again today, global in scope,” he said, emphasizing the alarming implications of this case.
Responses from Law Enforcement and Community Leaders
LAPD released a statement saying they were deeply troubled by the incident. Editorial note — A signatory to this letter, the Southern Poverty Law Center, shared with us their intention to sign the letter. Many local law enforcement agencies are reportedly stepping up their own vigilance following this alarming incident.
Community leaders have made their disapproval abundantly clear. More importantly, they understand that these types of incidents are part of a larger pattern that’s hurting communities all across America. They have encouraged greater coordination and sharing of information between law enforcement agencies and community organizations to address extremism.
