Eight men have been indicted in the United States on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges for their alleged roles in a thwarted plot to attack a UFC mixed martial arts event held on the South Lawn of the White House in June. The indictment, returned in Ohio, charges all eight with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory, offences that carry potential life sentences.
The event targeted by the alleged plotters was UFC Freedom 250, held on June 15 to mark President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. Approximately 4,300 people attended, including around 1,200 military personnel. According to investigators, the group began preparations as early as May, amassing firearms, ammunition, body armour, explosives, drones, medical equipment and communications gear. Four days before the event, law enforcement received a tip about a possible threat, allowing authorities to move against the conspirators before the attack could be carried out.
One of the defendants told investigators that the plan involved flying explosive-laden drones into the crowd, followed by sniper fire targeting people fleeing in panic. Authorities say the alleged plotters also intended to kill President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. The Justice Department has said the group harboured fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilise the government.
The eighth and most recently charged defendant is Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, who was arrested this week. According to a federal affidavit, Scaggs was designated as one of the snipers in the plot. After the lead organiser, Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, was arrested the weekend of the event, Scaggs allegedly signalled his continued willingness to participate and made separate arrangements to travel to Washington with another co-conspirator.
The case has drawn significant attention given the scale of the alleged plan and its high-profile target. The other defendants were arrested across several US states, including Missouri, Nebraska, California and Washington, in the days surrounding the event. The FBI publicly confirmed it had foiled the attack shortly after UFC Freedom 250 concluded.