A total of eight men have now been indicted for their alleged roles in a plot to attack a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held on the grounds of the White House last month, federal prosecutors announced.

The alleged plan, revealed by the Justice Department, involved using drones to create a diversion before employing snipers to target attendees fleeing the June 14 event. The UFC Freedom250 fight took place on the South Lawn of the White House.

Authorities initially arrested five men in connection with the alleged plot on the weekend of the event, with two more suspects apprehended the following week. The indictment, unsealed Thursday, names Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, as the eighth defendant, allegedly assigned to be one of the snipers.

Prosecutors stated that Scaggs was apprehended in West Virginia after allegedly making new plans to travel to Washington, D.C., and carry out the attack, even after losing contact with alleged co-conspirator Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio. Proper was arrested by federal authorities.

The indictment, issued by a grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, replaces the initial criminal complaints filed against seven of the men. All eight defendants are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.

An attorney for Scaggs indicated that his office is in the "very early stages" of reviewing the government's evidence and declined further comment due to the serious nature of the allegations. Similarly, an attorney for Proper stated that his client will enter a not guilty plea.

The UFC event, UFC Freedom250, featured lightweight championship bout between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria, as well as a fight between featherweight fighters Diego Lopez and Steve Garcia. The presence of the event on the White House South Lawn made it a high-profile target.

This development underscores the ongoing concerns regarding domestic terrorism and the potential for attacks on significant public events. The investigation is ongoing, with further details expected as the legal proceedings advance.