Eight men charged in plot to attack Trump White House birthday event with drones and snipers

Eight men face federal charges for allegedly plotting a mass-casualty attack on a Donald Trump birthday celebration at the White House using explosive-laden drones and rooftop snipers.

Eight men charged in plot to attack Trump White House birthday event with drones and snipers

Eight men charged in plot to attack Trump White House birthday event with drones and snipers

Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged eight men with conspiring to carry out a deadly assault on a birthday celebration held for Donald Trump at the White House. The event, a mixed-martial-arts gathering marking the former president's 80th birthday on 14 June, was allegedly targeted with a plan involving unmanned aircraft carrying explosives and sharpshooters positioned on surrounding rooftops.

The accused, ranging in age from 19 to 32, hail from several different states across the country. According to the Department of Justice, they used online chat groups to coordinate the scheme, recruit participants, and push the operation forward. The indictment claims the group intended to launch explosive-laden drones near the venue to trigger an evacuation, after which snipers would open fire on officials as they exited.

Among the intended victims were President Trump, Vice-President J.D. Vance, federal officials, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — though Netanyahu did not attend the gathering, which drew more than 4,000 invited guests to the White House grounds.

The suspects face charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to assassinate a government official. The investigation is being handled in Ohio.

Five of the men were taken into custody in California, Nebraska, and Missouri shortly before the event. Two more were arrested by the FBI at the end of June — one in Washington state and another in Missouri. The eighth suspect, 21-year-old Chandler D. Skaggs, was apprehended this week in West Virginia, where authorities say he was slated to act as a sniper in the planned strike.

Source: Πολίτης

Source: Politis