FBI links 'Turtle Island' group to terror plot to bomb California

FBI links 'Turtle Island' group to terror plot to bomb California

Christopher Cann, USA TODAY

Tue, December 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM UTC

3 min read

Four people were charged in an alleged New Year's Eve bombing plot that would have targeted businesses across Southern California, the FBI announced this week.

The four suspects, who prosecutors charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device, were accused of being members of an offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, or TILF, a group federal officials said is motivated by extremist pro-Palestinian, anti-law-enforcement and anti-government ideology.

More: 4 arrested in New Year’s Eve bombing plot in California, FBI says

FBI Director Kash Patel accused the suspects – Audrey Ilene Carroll, 30; Dante Garfield, 24; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; and Tina Lai, 41– of planning an attack involving improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, to bomb at least five businesses throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Nov. 12, 2025

The defendants also allegedly discussed targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities and vehicles with pipe bombs, according to a charging document, which accuses Carroll of saying "That would take some of them out and scare the rest of them.”

USA TODAY could not immediately reach the suspects' legal representation.

A fifth person was arrested by the FBI in New Orleans, Patel said, for allegedly "planning a separate violent attack." That suspect, the director said, is also believed to be linked to TILF.

Here's what we know about the TILF and the alleged terror plot.

Four suspects allegedly linked to Turtle Island Liberation Front were charged in alleged New Year’s Eve bombing plot across Southern California.

What is the Turtle Island Liberation Front?

The “Turtle Island Liberation Front – LA Chapter" is described on its social media page as being devoted to “Liberation through decolonization and tribal sovereignty," according to the complaint, which alleges the group is "an anti-capitalist, anti-government movement."

A review of the group's Instagram account shows it has 1,010 followers. It's first post, a fundraiser for Palestinian families, indigenous people and "anti ICE" efforts, dates back to July.

A federal complaint said the suspects were all part of a Signal group chat called "Order of the Black Lotus," a purported offshoot of the TILF group, which one of the suspects described as being "radical."

Posters and materials found in FBI's search of suspect Audrey Carroll's residence

“TILF also calls for the working class to rise up and fight back against capitalism,” the complaint says. “Moreover, TILF advocates that liberalism and peaceful protest will be the downfall of those who believe it is enough, and that ‘direct action is the only way.’”

During a search of the suspects' homes, investigators discovered multiple posters associated with the Turtle Island group and other evidence, including a detailed copy of the planned attack.

Turtle Island is a term long used by indigenous tribes to describe the creation of North America, according to the United Nations. It stems from the believe that the Earth was created on the back of a giant turtle.

Images show bomb-making materials in the desert

Charcoal powder intended to be used in the bombs.

In November, the FBI got its hands on an eight-page document describing the alleged bombing plot through a paid confidential source, according to the complaint.

The four defendants were arrested on Dec. 12 while they were testing bomb-making materials in the Mojave Desert, court papers say.

Federal authorities published several images showing writings found in the suspects' homes, including a note that says "DEATH TO ICE" and another reading "DEATH TO AMERICA." Other images show bomb-making materials at a campsite in the desert, including PVC pipes, sulfur powder and material to be used as fuses.

Prosecutors said they expect to file more charges in the coming weeks as investigators review the evidence.

Contributing: Reuters; Natalie Neysa Alund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FBI links 'Turtle Island Liberation Front' to terror plot. What is it?

About Our Ads

Source