(AFP): Plot to target White House sports event last month involved rallies and firearms

Washington, July 10 (KUNA) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Friday that a plot previously uncovered by authorities, which included an attempt to assassinate government officials and participants in the UFC Freedom 250 mixed martial arts event at the White House grounds in mid-June, involved the use of drones and firearms to target fleeing individuals. This was revealed during a press conference held by acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromarty, a day after the U.S. Department of Justice announced a new indictment in the case.

Cromarty stated, "We have learned that the group planned to carry out an attack that would result in a large number of casualties using drones loaded with explosives and firearms intended to shoot fleeing individuals amidst the crowds."

The U.S. Department of Justice had issued an indictment on Thursday against eight individuals on charges of "conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and conspiracy to kill officers and employees of the United States."

According to federal prosecutors, the conspiracy began last May when the defendants began raising funds and acquiring firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies, and communication equipment. Authorities reported that the suspects coordinated their activities online using the Signal encrypted messaging app, the Discord platform, and a TikTok group named "Vanguard of the Old." Prosecutors noted that the group adhered to anti-government conspiracy theories and expressed a desire to "destroy" the United States in order to rebuild it according to their own ideology.

The U.S. Department of Justice had previously announced on June 16 that five individuals were indicted for conspiring to carry out an attack aimed at killing government officials and others during the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House grounds. At that time, the department revealed that the suspects were arrested in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California after they "conspired to plan and execute an attack that would result in a large number of casualties by deploying drones armed with explosives to force attendees to evacuate, and then deploying snipers to shoot high-value targets among the fleeing crowds." (End) R.S.R. / H.M.F.