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FBI Disrupts Planned Attack on Los Angeles Headquarters

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. -planned-attack-on-los-angeles-headquarters.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, February 10th 2026 at 6:06 GMT by CNN
      Locales: California, UNITED STATES

Los Angeles, CA - February 10th, 2026 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today that it successfully disrupted a planned attack on its Los Angeles headquarters, arresting two individuals accused of conspiring to damage federal property with explosives. The arrests, made over the weekend, have triggered a broader investigation into potential domestic extremist connections, specifically linking the suspects to the loosely organized 'Turtle Island' movement.

Shpend Mehmeti, 22, of Los Angeles, and Eric Christian Fuller, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, were apprehended on Saturday following a months-long investigation. According to a detailed FBI affidavit unsealed this morning, both men allegedly engaged in detailed discussions about targeting the FBI's Westwood office building in Los Angeles with an explosive device. Investigators believe the pair was actively preparing to execute the attack before law enforcement intervened.

The motivation behind the plot appears rooted in escalating anti-government sentiment and a deep-seated anger towards the FBI and other governmental institutions, the affidavit states. While the exact catalyst remains under investigation, authorities have identified a connection between both suspects and the 'Turtle Island' movement - a disparate collection of individuals united by a complex ideology centered around Native American land rights and anti-establishment views.

'Turtle Island' is not a formally structured organization, but rather a network of loosely affiliated groups and individuals advocating for the return of ancestral lands to Native American tribes. The movement's core tenets often encompass distrust of federal and state governments, law enforcement agencies, and a rejection of modern societal norms. While not inherently violent, its rhetoric frequently promotes radical ideas and resentment towards perceived injustices. Experts in domestic extremism suggest the movement has been gaining traction online, attracting individuals disillusioned with mainstream politics and seeking alternative ideologies.

"This case highlights the increasingly complex landscape of domestic terrorism," explains Dr. Evelyn Reed, a researcher specializing in extremist groups at the University of Southern California. "The 'Turtle Island' movement, while largely peaceful, provides fertile ground for radicalization. Individuals feeling marginalized and disenfranchised can latch onto its ideology and, in rare cases, escalate to violence."

The FBI utilized a combination of confidential informants and covert surveillance to monitor Mehmeti and Fuller's activities, gathering sufficient evidence to warrant their arrests before they could put their plan into action. Authorities have not disclosed the specific type of explosive device the suspects intended to use, citing ongoing investigative concerns. Both men are currently being held without bail and are scheduled for a court appearance next week, where they will face charges of conspiracy to damage federal property and potentially other related offenses.

The investigation is now expanding to determine the full extent of the 'Turtle Island' movement's involvement in the plot, and to assess whether other individuals may have been aware of, or participated in, the planning stages. The FBI is meticulously examining online forums and social media platforms frequented by members of the movement, searching for evidence of coordinated activity or calls for violence.

FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director-in-Charge, in a prepared statement released earlier today, reiterated the agency's commitment to protecting the community. "The FBI is committed to protecting the communities we serve," the statement read. "We take all threats seriously, and we will continue to work with our partners to identify and disrupt those who seek to harm our communities." The agency is working closely with local law enforcement agencies to enhance security measures around critical infrastructure and government buildings in the Los Angeles area.

The incident raises critical questions about the challenges of monitoring and countering domestic extremism in the digital age. The rise of online radicalization and the proliferation of loosely affiliated extremist groups present significant difficulties for law enforcement agencies tasked with preventing attacks before they occur. Balancing security concerns with constitutional rights to freedom of speech and assembly remains a delicate and ongoing challenge.