The Justice Department announced Thursday that eight people have been charged with terrorism-related offenses in connection with a foiled plot to target government officials and high-profile figures at a UFC event last month.
The indictment, handed down in Ohio, alleges that the group conspired to provide material support to terrorists, commit murder on federal territory, and murder federal government officials.
The plot allegedly began in May when the defendants started gathering funds, firearms, and other equipment, with one suspect set to travel to Washington, D.C. for the event.
The group coordinated their plans online through encrypted channels, including Signal, Discord, and a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old."
Prosecutors noted that the defendants held fringe anti-government conspiracy theories and expressed a desire to dismantle the United States.
The suspects were arrested in various locations across the country, with one suspect, who was allegedly designated as a sniper, arrested this week in West Virginia.
The investigation and indictment stem from an initial complaint filed against Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio.
The defendants, aged between 19 and 32, were charged with multiple counts of terrorism-related offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder and provide material support to terrorists.
