In a significant development, federal authorities have apprehended four individuals believed to be part of an extremist faction, accused of orchestrating a series of bombings in Southern California on New Year’s Eve. The arrests took place last week in Lucerne Valley, a desert locale situated east of Los Angeles, as per a federal criminal complaint filed recently.
The suspects, according to the complaint, are affiliated with a breakaway faction of a pro-Palestinian group known as the Turtle Island Liberation Front. During a press briefing, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described the group as holding “radical anti-government” views.
Charges against the suspects include conspiracy and possession of a destructive device, as outlined in court records. Authorities allege that their plans involved detonating bombs at several sites across California starting on New Year’s Eve, with additional plots targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel and vehicles, as stated by Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media.
The arrests occurred in proximity to Twentynine Palms, California, home to a prominent Marine Corps base. Essayli confirmed that all four suspects hail from the Los Angeles area. He noted that one member of the group had devised a comprehensive plan to target multiple locations throughout Southern California on the specified date.
The plan was detailed and included “step-by-step instructions to build IEDs…and listed multiple targets across Orange County and Los Angeles,” according to Essayli. Visual evidence submitted with the court documents depicts a desert campsite cluttered with alleged bomb-making materials on foldable tables.
The complaint further reveals that each suspect contributed to the bomb-making efforts, bringing materials such as PVC pipes of varying sizes, suspected potassium nitrate, charcoal, charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and fuse materials to the campsite.
Federal officials had scheduled a news conference to discuss the arrests and the ongoing investigation.
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