Feds arrest four in SoCal New Year’s Eve bombing plot; ICE agents among alleged targets
Federal authorities arrested four suspects Friday in Lucerne Valley in the Mojave Desert, charging them with conspiracy and possession of a destructive device after agents say they found bomb‑making components (PVC pipe, suspected potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulfur powder, and fuse material) as the group prepared to test improvised explosive devices. DOJ identified the suspects as members (or an offshoot) of the Turtle Island Liberation Front — described by AG Pam Bondi as far‑left, pro‑Palestine and anti‑government — and said they planned coordinated New Year’s Eve bombings across Southern California and targeted ICE agents and vehicles; DOJ and the FBI held a Los Angeles press conference to announce the disruption.
📌 Key Facts
- Four people were arrested Friday in Lucerne Valley in the Mojave Desert (east of Los Angeles) after federal agents said they began preparing and testing improvised explosive devices; a federal criminal complaint was filed the following Saturday.
- Authorities say the suspects were at a desert campsite preparing to build and detonate/test IEDs, and evidence photos and components were recovered, including PVC pipes, suspected potassium nitrate, charcoal/charcoal powder, sulfur powder and fuse material.
- The Justice Department alleges the four are members of an offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front; Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly described the group as “far-left, pro‑Palestine, anti‑government, and anti‑capitalist,” and court records say members had advocated violence against U.S. officials on social media.
- Officials described the plan as a coordinated string of New Year’s Eve bombings across Southern California and said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and vehicles were among the alleged targets.
- The federal criminal complaint charges include conspiracy and possession of a destructive device.
- The Department of Justice and FBI planned a Los Angeles news conference to discuss the arrests (held Monday), with officials including FBI Los Angeles ADIC Akil Davis, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell and LA County Sheriff Robert Luna; Bondi framed the action on social media as a DOJ–FBI joint disruption.
📰 Sources (5)
Justice Department Charges Four in Alleged New Year’s Eve Bomb Plot
New information:
- DOJ said in court records the four are members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front and had advocated violence against U.S. officials on social media.
- Agents arrested the suspects Friday in the Mojave Desert as they began preparing to build and detonate test explosive devices.
- Officials described the plan as a coordinated string of New Year’s Eve bombings across Southern California.
- A Monday Los Angeles press conference featured FBI Los Angeles ADIC Akil Davis, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, and LA County Sheriff Robert Luna.
4 charged with plotting New Year's Eve attacks in Southern California, prosecutors say
New information:
- A federal criminal complaint was filed Saturday and includes evidence photos from a desert campsite.
- Court documents detail specific bomb-making components recovered: PVC pipes, suspected potassium nitrate, charcoal/charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and fuse material.
- Authorities say the suspects were preparing to test improvised explosive devices in Lucerne Valley ahead of the planned New Year's Eve attacks.
- Officials planned a Monday morning news conference to discuss the arrests.
Federal authorities arrest 4 suspected extremists in New Year’s Eve bombing plot across Southern California
New information:
- Arrests occurred in Lucerne Valley, a desert city east of Los Angeles.
- A federal criminal complaint was filed Saturday; the suspects were arrested last week.
- Agents say the group was preparing to test improvised explosive devices at the time of arrest.
- The defendants are described as members of an offshoot of the pro‑Palestinian Turtle Island Liberation Front.
- Charges include conspiracy and possession of a destructive device, per court documents.
- Federal authorities scheduled a Monday morning news conference on the arrests; AG Pam Bondi referenced planned targeting of ICE agents and vehicles on social media.
U.S. foiled alleged terror plot in California by "far-left" group, Bondi says
New information:
- AG Pam Bondi publicly characterized the perpetrators as the Turtle Island Liberation Front, describing it as 'far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist.'
- Bondi said the group planned to target Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and vehicles in addition to New Year’s Eve bombings.
- DOJ/FBI plan a Los Angeles press conference to release further details; Bondi’s statement frames the action as a DOJ–FBI joint disruption in the Central District of California.