Patel Heaps Praise On FBI Agents Over Uptick In Arrests
FBI Director Kash Patel praised agents in Illinois on Tuesday for arresting over 60 individuals in just one week, as part of the Justice Department’s Operation Safe Christmas. During the operation, 63 criminal offenders were apprehended, along with the seizure of 2.5 pounds of narcotics and $15,000 in cash.
The mission was conducted in the Southern District of Illinois and was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Department of Justice, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Illinois State Police, the ATF Chicago, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to Just the News.
“Great work [FBI Springfield] and partners,” Patel noted on X. “60+ arrests in just 7 days and American streets safer because of it. FBI continues to have a historic year coordinating with LEO’s across the country and cracking down on crime.”
The arrests were linked to a larger nationwide law enforcement effort aimed at combating violent crime and drug distribution.
“Operations like this reflect the strength that comes from close cooperation among law enforcement agencies,” FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson said. “By working together, we are able to locate and apprehend individuals who drive violent crime into our communities.
“The successful arrests made during this sweep represent FBI Springfield’s continued commitment to crushing violent crime and keeping our neighborhoods safe,” he added.
Federal authorities, meanwhile, announced earlier this week that they disrupted a credible terrorist threat over the weekend by arresting four alleged members of a radical pro-Palestinian extremist group. These individuals are accused of planning coordinated bombings in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve.
The FBI told Fox News Digital that the suspects identified themselves as part of a radical offshoot of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), a group driven by pro-Palestinian, anti-law enforcement, and anti-government ideologies.
According to the FBI, the suspects allegedly intended to carry out coordinated bombing attacks using improvised explosive devices, targeting five different locations throughout Los Angeles.
The agency reported that four individuals were arrested in Lucerne Valley, where they were suspected of preparing to test explosive devices in advance of planned attacks. Each person has been charged with conspiracy and possession of a destructive device.
On Monday, the FBI announced the arrest of a fifth individual in New Orleans, who is believed to be connected to the same TILF extremist group and is accused of planning a separate attack.
According to an Instagram account associated with TILF, their founding chapter is located in Los Angeles, and their objective is to liberate “Turtle Island,” an Indigenous term referring to North America, from what they describe as the “illegal American empire.”
“Free Palestine. Free Hawaii. Free Puerto Rico,” the account posted. “Freeing the world from American imperialism is the only way to a safe and peaceful future.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X that the Department of Justice collaborated with the FBI to thwart an alleged terror plot in the Central District of California. She noted further that the group planned to target ICE agents and vehicles.
“This was an incredible effort by our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI to ensure Americans can live in peace,” Bondi wrote. “We will continue to pursue these terror groups and bring them to justice.”
