A federal grand jury has indicted eight men accused of planning a large-scale attack on a UFC event held at the White House earlier this year. Prosecutors allege the group intended to use explosive-equipped drones to trigger panic before launching sniper attacks on fleeing crowds and high-profile attendees.
The case, described by authorities as a major domestic terrorism investigation, follows months of FBI and Department of Justice inquiries after the alleged conspiracy was uncovered before the event took place.
Authorities Say Attack Was Planned in Multiple Stages
According to the indictment, the suspects allegedly organized a coordinated attack targeting the White House’s “Freedom 250” UFC event in June. Investigators claim the plan involved detonating drones near the venue to create chaos, followed by sniper attacks aimed at selected targets during the evacuation.
Federal prosecutors allege the group acquired drones, firearms, explosives, tactical equipment, and other supplies while communicating through online platforms. Some members were also accused of participating in combat-style training as part of the preparation.
Investigation Expanded From Five to Eight Defendants
The investigation initially led to charges against five individuals. As authorities gathered additional evidence, three more suspects were identified and added to the federal indictment, bringing the total number of defendants to eight.
Officials consolidated the prosecution into a single federal case in Ohio. One of the newly charged defendants was allegedly assigned the role of sniper during the planned attack. Investigators say the alleged conspiracy involved participants from several U.S. states.
Serious Federal Charges Filed
The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to provide material support for terrorism. If convicted, some of the charges carry potential penalties ranging from lengthy prison terms to life imprisonment.
Authorities stated that the alleged attack was disrupted before it could be carried out, preventing what they believe could have become a mass-casualty incident. Federal agencies continue to investigate whether additional individuals may have had connections to the alleged conspiracy.
