The four Irish nationals accused of plotting to ship weapons from Florida to Ireland have been further charged with supporting terrorists and conspiring to commit murder in the North.
Prosecutors in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, filed the new indictment on Wednesday after noon, two weeks before the gun-running trial was scheduled to start. The new charges include providing material support to terrorists, conspiring to murder and maim individuals in Northern Ireland and other weapons offences.
The defendants, Mr Conor Claxton, Ms Siobhan Browne, Mr Martin Mullan and Mr Anthony Smyth, were arrested in Fort Lauderdale and Philadelphia last July after authorities unearthed what they alleged was an elaborate plot to buy and post firearms and ammunition to Ireland.
They are currently being held without bail on weapon smuggling charges.