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The U.S. Justice Department has indicted eight men in connection with what it described as a conspiracy targeting a mixed martial arts event held at the White House to mark President Donald Trump's birthday.
The Justice Department explained that a federal grand jury in Columbus charged the defendants with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government land, and murder of a federal official, charges that could carry a life sentence if convicted.
According to the prosecution's account, the suspects planned to use explosive-laden drones around the event site to force attendees to evacuate, before deploying snipers to target "high-value targets" as they scrambled to leave the scene.
Authorities had previously announced the arrest of seven suspects, before this week arresting another suspect, a 21-year-old in West Virginia, who is suspected of having been assigned the role of sniper in the plot.
The event, hosted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), took place on June 14 in a specially built arena on the grounds of the White House. Trump, members of his family, and government officials attended as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States' independence, despite it coinciding with the president's 80th birthday.
