FBI Foils Planned New Year’s Eve Attacks in Southern California

Subject: FBI Foils Planned New Year’s Eve Attacks in Southern California
Date: 251218-0245z
Threat Level: (3) Elevated — YELLOW
https://magnethf.com/251218-0245z
Analyst Note: Elevated threat posture (YELLOW 3) due to late-stage disruption of a coordinated domestic extremist plot, symbolic holiday timing, and increased potential for copycat or lone-actor activity following public disclosure. Investigation remains ongoing with possible additional arrests or charges.

December 15, 2025

Federal authorities announced Tuesday that they have disrupted a planned series of attacks targeting New Year’s Eve events in Southern California, arresting four individuals who investigators say were in the advanced stages of preparing coordinated acts of violence.

According to the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice, the arrests were carried out earlier this month after investigators determined the suspects posed an imminent threat. Officials said the plot involved plans to carry out multiple attacks timed around New Year’s Eve, a period marked by large public gatherings.

Authorities described the case as a domestic extremism investigation and emphasized that the suspects were apprehended before any attacks could take place.

1. Incident Overview

What happened:
Federal authorities, led by the FBI, disrupted a credible terrorist plot and arrested four people alleged to be planning coordinated bombing attacks scheduled for New Year’s Eve in the Los Angeles, California area. ABC7 New York

Date of law enforcement action:
The arrests occurred on December 12, 2025, with the case announced publicly on December 15, 2025. Reuters

Location of arrests:
Lucerne Valley / Twentynine Palms area — a desert region east of Los Angeles where the suspects were allegedly testing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). ABC7 New York

2. Alleged Group & Ideology

Group affiliation:
Officials say the suspects self-identified as part of a radical offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) — described by prosecutors as an anti-government, anti-capitalist, and pro-Palestinian extremist group. Reuters

Motivations (official description):

• Pro-Palestinian ideology
• Anti-law enforcement and anti-government sentiment
• Claimed opposition to U.S. institutions and federal agencies — including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) units. ABC7 New York

3. Individuals Charged

According to statements by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI leadership, the four arrested were:

• Audrey Ilene Carroll
• Zachary Aaron Page
• Dante Gaffield
• Tina Lai

All four are from the Los Angeles area and are facing federal charges. Reuters+1

4. Alleged Plot Details

Targets & tactics:
According to the criminal complaint and prosecutors:

• The plan called for detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at five or more locations across Southern California on New Year’s Eve.
• Circumstantial evidence indicates explicit step-by-step instructions on how to build the devices, including materials like PVC pipe, potassium nitrate, sulfur, charcoal, and fuse materials.
• The plan allegedly included target selection across Los Angeles and Orange County, and discussed violence targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and vehicles. ABC7 New York

Communication methods:
Prosecutors allege the group used encrypted messaging (e.g., Signal chat groups, reportedly including one dubbed “Order of the Black Lotus”) to coordinate planning. Reuters

Operational phase:
Federal surveillance reportedly captured suspects in the preparatory phases, including alleged testing of explosive components in the desert prior to arrest. Reuters

5. Charges & Legal Status

Federal charges include:

• Conspiracy to commit terrorist acts
• Possession of an unregistered destructive device (violations of federal law relating to explosives/disruptive devices)

U.S. prosecutors indicated that additional charges may be filed as evidence review continues. Reuters

6. Additional Arrests / Wider Investigation

Law enforcement officials also reported the arrest of a fifth individual believed to be connected to the same extremist subgroup, taken into custody in New Orleans and allegedly planning a separate violent attack. WBMA

7. Government & Law Enforcement Response

Justice Department / FBI statements:
Officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, held a press conference detailing the plot’s disruption and the evidence gathered. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted the domestic terrorism threat component and confirmed ongoing investigation efforts. KEYE

Public safety impact:
Authorities have stated that the disruption prevented a serious, imminent threat during a high-traffic holiday period, and that continuing investigations aim to uncover additional network links, potential accomplices, and other plots. Reuters

8. Contextual Notes

Domestic terrorism landscape:
This arrest occurred amid heightened federal focus on domestic extremist threats, including anti-government cells that adopt ideological narratives tied to foreign conflicts or anti-institutional causes. It complements other domestic terrorism casework from 2025. AP News

What to Expect Next

In the coming weeks, federal prosecutors are expected to continue reviewing seized communications, digital devices, and physical evidence, which could result in additional charges or expanded indictments. Court proceedings will move into pretrial hearings, where more details about the planning, scope, and timeline of the alleged plot may become public. Law enforcement agencies are also likely to maintain heightened security and monitoring around major public events, particularly through the holiday period, due to the potential risk of copycat or lone-actor activity inspired by the case. Authorities have emphasized that while the immediate threat was disrupted, the broader investigation remains active and ongoing.