Five Arrested in Alleged Plot to Hit White House UFC Event
The FBI says it disrupted an alleged plot targeting the White House UFC event and has five people in custody so far. The reported plan involved multiple phases, but officials have only publicly confirmed limited details and say the case will be fleshed out in court filings.
FBI: Five detained after alleged plot targeting White House UFC show
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau became aware of a potential threat on June 10 and worked with law enforcement partners in a multi-state operation that led to several arrests. CBS News said a law enforcement source put the number in custody at five, while NBC News reported that a senior law enforcement official described the plot as “quite serious.”
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said his agency worked closely with the FBI during the investigation and that formal comments on the case specifics would come through court filings.
Sources said the alleged scheme involved explosive-laden drones aimed at buildings near the event, with a sniper team allegedly positioned to target fleeing crowds. Those reports also said investigators believed a second wave of attackers may have planned to storm the White House gate. NBC News said it had not independently confirmed those details, and Patel’s public post did not spell them out.
The New York Post added that investigators searched a suspect’s iPhone and found Signal chats with at least 23 users discussing the alleged plan, though that detail has not been publicly confirmed by other outlets in the same way. The Post also reported that one suspect said the target was “capitalist elites,” billionaires, and politicians linked to AIPAC.
The event took place Sunday on the White House South Lawn as part of the UFC Freedom 250 celebration tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. It also coincided with President Trump’s 80th birthday, and thousands of spectators attended while a heavy security presence surrounded the complex.
The roads were blocked, fencing was used to manage crowds, and hundreds of federal, state, and local officers were deployed around the White House and nearby areas. The event drew thousands and Trump sat in the front row. The alleged plot came against a backdrop of recent political violence and threats in the United States, including incidents involving the White House area and attacks on public figures.
