Overview
- Four Los Angeles–area suspects — Audrey Illeene Carroll, Zachary Aaron Page, Dante Gaffield and Tina Lai — were arrested while testing devices in the Mojave Desert and charged with conspiracy and possession of a destructive device.
- A fifth person was taken into custody in New Orleans in a related case, and authorities say the investigation remains active with more charges possible.
- Charging documents describe a coordinated plan to place improvised explosive devices in backpacks at five or more locations to detonate simultaneously on December 31.
- Evidence recovered at a desert camp included PVC tubing, suspected potassium nitrate, charcoal, sulfur and wicking material, along with a detailed written plan dubbed “Operation Midnight Sun.”
- Officials say the intended targets were unspecified U.S. businesses described as Amazon‑type logistics centers, and messages on encrypted apps and discussions of potential 2026 attacks on ICE agents are cited as further evidence.