Eight Men Indicted in Alleged White House UFC Attack Plot

Why it matters locally: While the alleged plot to attack a UFC event at the White House was thwarted, its proximity to Virginia could lead to heightened security and vigilance in the surrounding areas and at similar large-scale events held within the Commonwealth.

Federal prosecutors indicted eight men Thursday on charges of murder and terrorism conspiracy. The indictments stem from an alleged plot to attack a UFC event held at the White House in June. Authorities stated the men intended to use drones and a sniper in their alleged plan. Investigators revealed that law enforcement discovered and stopped the alleged attack before it could proceed. The nature of the specific drones or sniper equipment involved in the alleged plot was not detailed in the indictment documents released Thursday. Similarly, the indictment did not specify the intended targets or methods within the UFC event at the White House. Prosecutorial documents outline the charges, which include conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism. The grand jury returned the indictments following an investigation into the alleged activities of the eight individuals. Officials did not publicly release the names of the indicted individuals or further details regarding their alleged roles at the time of the announcement.