The US Justice Department has announced that eight men have been indicted on terrorism charges over an alleged plot to carry out a sniper attack at the UFC Freedom 250 event held on the South Lawn of the White House last month. The alleged targets included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, as well as other government officials and high-profile figures. The FBI says the plot was disrupted before the event, with agents and the Secret Service placing suspects under surveillance and making arrests ahead of the fights, which went ahead as planned.

The two-count indictment, handed down in Ohio, alleges the men conspired to provide material support to terrorists, to commit murder on federal territory and to murder federal officials. Law enforcement first learned of the possible threat on 10 June, four days before the event, and seven suspects were arrested shortly afterwards in various locations; the eighth, allegedly designated as the sniper, was arrested this week in West Virginia. The case stems from an initial complaint against Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, with the other defendants aged between 21 and 32. The FBI says the investigation is continuing and further arrests may follow.