8 men indicted on conspiracy charges over planned attack on White House UFC event

Eight men face murder and terrorism conspiracy charges for allegedly planning a sophisticated drone and sniper attack targeting a UFC cage-fighting event held at the White House in June. The indictment, unsealed in Ohio, details two separate conspiracies: one to provide material support to terrorists and another to commit murder on federal territory.

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According to the indictment, the plot began in May, when the group began amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications equipment and other items.

The alleged plot began in May, with the group reportedly gathering funds, firearms, ammunition, explosives, drones, and other necessary equipment. Law enforcement became aware of a potential threat to the event, dubbed Freedom 250, just four days before it was scheduled to take place.

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On June 10, law enforcement officials learned about a possible threat to President Donald Trump's UFC cage-fighting show, four days before the mixed martial arts extravaganza.

According to a federal affidavit, the defendants are said to have harbored fringe conspiracy theories, believing their attack would destabilize the government. One defendant allegedly told investigators they planned to use explosive-laden drones and then shoot fleeing crowd members.

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Officials said the group members harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government.

Federal charges were initially brought against seven individuals across the country last month. The eighth defendant, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of West Virginia, was charged this week and taken into custody. Scaggs was reportedly assigned as one of the snipers and, despite losing contact with a co-conspirator after his arrest, allegedly signaled his continued willingness to participate in the attack.

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One of the defendants told investigators that they planned to fly explosive-laden drones into the event and then shoot panicked crowd members as they fled, according to a federal affidavit.