Arrests Made in New Year’s Eve Terrorism Plot
Last Friday, several individuals affiliated with a breakaway faction of the extremist Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF) were apprehended in the Los Angeles area. They are suspected of planning a terrorist attack for New Year’s Eve, with their social media presence featuring alarming slogans like “Death to America.”
TILF, which isn’t very well-known, has been labeled as a “pro-Palestinian, anti-law enforcement, anti-government” extremist organization. It is reportedly gathering resources to pursue what they term “revolutionary regime change.”
The FBI affidavit reveals that TILF advocates for the working class to rise against capitalism, asserting that direct action is the only viable path, undermining those who believe in the effectiveness of liberalism and peaceful protest.
Origin of the Name “Turtle Island”
The group derives its name from “Turtle Island,” a term used by certain Indigenous peoples to refer to North America. This notion stems from stories suggesting that the continent rests on the back of a giant turtle.
The term predates the formation of the United States and aligns with TILF’s overarching goal of dismantling the U.S., which they perceive as unjust.
Left-wing activist groups, like Black Lives Matter, have also utilized the term to contest the colonial names associated with the U.S. and Canada. TILF has taken this idea further, intertwining it with themes of decolonization that apply to both North America and Israel.
They utilize phrases like “From Turtle Island to Palestine, occupation is a crime” to illustrate their position. Interestingly, the group claims that when they chant “Death to America,” it is not aimed at harming non-Indigenous individuals.
Additionally, the group frequently shares images on social media featuring members holding signs such as “Death to ICE!!!” while displaying the Palestinian flag.
Links to the Foiled New Year’s Eve Plot
On Monday, federal authorities unveiled that they had prevented a bomb plot known as Operation Midnight Sun, linked to a splinter group of TILF called the Order of the Black Lotus.
The FBI reported that four members of this splinter group, Audrey Eileen Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41, were charged with possessing an unregistered destructive device and conspiracy.
A fifth suspect, who remains unidentified, was also charged for planning another attack. The group’s bombing plot involved participants adopting “black bloc” attire and taking precautions to hide their identities, which included buying materials for black powder pipe bombs using cash.
A bit unsettling, they seemed aware of the potential surveillance from federal agents. For instance, Page suggested during a meeting that they were likely being monitored.
Both Carroll and Page had contemplated further attacks, specifically targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with pipe bombs, hoping to intimidate and eliminate some of them, as described in the complaint.
Interestingly, President Trump had issued an executive order back in September directing his administration to focus on domestic terrorist organizations, including Antifa.
In a statement, Los Angeles First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Ezeiri discussed the nature of these threats, describing them as a coordinated campaign aimed at stifling dissent and undermining democratic processes.
Authorities confirmed the apprehension of four suspects who were allegedly attempting to detonate an improvised explosive device in Lucerne Valley, located in the Mojave Desert. The two men involved are expected to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday.
