A horror and credible terror threat has been foiled by the FBI, with four people arrested and accused of planning coordinated New Year’s Eve bombings in Los Angeles. Members of a radical offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), an anti-colonial activist group, were allegedly planning attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at five different locations, the FBI told Fox News Digital.
All four were arrested in Lucerne Valley, California, where they were believed to be testing the IEDs, and have since been charged with conspiracy and possession of a destructive device. A fifth person also believed to be a part of the group was arrested on Monday in New Orleans for allegedly planning a separate attack, the FBI said.
A TILF Instagram account said its founding chapter is in Los Angeles, and its goal is to free « Turtle Island, » an Indigenous name used to refer to North America, from the « illegal American empire. »
The account posted: « Free Palestine. Free Hawaii. Free Puerto Rico. »
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the group was preparing « to conduct a series of bombings against multiple targets in California » with members of TILF also planning to hit « ICE agents and vehicles ».
Attorney General Bondi said: « After an intense investigation, the Department of Justice, working with our FBI, prevented what would have been a massive and horrific terror plot in the Central District of California (Orange County and Los Angeles).
« The Turtle Island Liberation Front—a far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government, and anti-capitalist group—was preparing to conduct a series of bombings against multiple targets in California beginning on New Year’s Eve.
« The group also planned to target ICE agents and vehicles.
« This was an incredible effort by our US Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI to ensure Americans can live in peace. We will continue to pursue these terror groups and bring them to justice. »
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the FBI for disrupting the « credible » terrorist threat adding that additional details will be provided later today in an FBI Press Conference.
FBI Director Patel said: « Over the weekend, the FBI disrupted a credible, imminent terrorist threat and arrested FOUR individuals connected to the Los Angeles area.
« The subjects self-identified as members of a radical offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), an extremist group motivated by pro-Palestinian, anti-law-enforcement, and anti-government ideology. They were allegedly planning coordinated IED bombing attacks on New Year’s Eve, targeting five separate locations across Los Angeles.
« In the days since, FBI New Orleans arrested an additional FIFTH individual believed to be linked to this radical TILF subgroup – also allegedly planning a separate violent attack.
« Outstanding work by our investigators and law enforcement partners, The Justice Department. Their work undoubtedly saved countless lives.
« FBI Los Angeles will hold a press conference later today to share additional details. »
Source link
