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Feds claim to thwart SoCal terrorist plot
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli speaks at a press conference announcing an arrest in the Palisades Fire investigation on October 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Essayli announced this morning's arrests in the New Year's Eve plot.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Federal authorities say they have thwarted a terrorist attack that was planned for New Year's Eve in Southern California. The Justice Department and FBI have announced the arrests of four people they say are members of an offshoot of the pro-Palestinian group called the "Turtle Island Liberation Front" in connection with the suspected plot.
Four charged: First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli says the four people charged are Audrey Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. Each is charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device.
The alleged plot: FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis says the suspects planned a coordinated attack that was meant to happen at midnight on New Year's Eve. "The subjects arrested envisioned planting backpacks with improvised explosive devices to be detonated at multiple locations in Southern California targeting U.S. companies," Davis said in a press conference this morning. Two of the suspects are also accused of discussing plans for follow-up attacks after their bombings, which included plans to target ICE agents and vehicles with pipe bombs.
The arrests: Essayli says the four people arrested traveled to the Mojave Desert last Friday to assemble and test the bombs. FBI agents arrested them before they could build a functional explosive.
What's next: The four defendants will make their initial appearance this afternoon at the federal court in downtown Los Angeles. They are each considered innocent until proven guilty.
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