FBI says it thwarted plot targeting White House UFC event

The FBI says it has disrupted an alleged plot targeting a UFC event held on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday. The agency's director, Kash Patel, said multiple suspects are now in custody after what he described as a multi-state operation. The event formed part of celebrations marking the nation's 250th anniversary.

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Patel said in a social media post on Tuesday morning that the alleged attacks were "stopped cold". Two sources told a US news partner that investigators believe the plan may have involved explosive-laden drone aircraft aimed at nearby buildings. Those sources also said a suspect was taken into custody in Cincinnati last week and that investigators had obtained access to Signal chats in which multiple people allegedly discussed the plan.

According to those same sources, the alleged plot was intended to create panic and draw a fleeing crowd towards a sniper team. They said a second wave of attackers would then have tried to storm the White House gate. Patel did not confirm those details in his post, although he did link to a report containing them.

The Secret Service said it had worked closely with the FBI throughout the investigation and that formal comments on the specifics would be made available in court filings. The case is significant because it involves an alleged threat to one of the most heavily protected sites in the United States during a high-profile public event. The White House hosted a series of Ultimate Fighting Championship matches on Sunday, with some members of the administration and celebrities in attendance.

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The event also coincided with Donald Trump's 80th birthday, adding to the security sensitivity around the gathering. The White House has long been a focal point for security planning, but the combination of a large crowd, a live sporting event and the use of drones would have presented a complex challenge for investigators and protective services. The reported use of encrypted messaging and the mention of a possible coordinated second wave suggest a broader operation than a single isolated suspect.

That makes the case relevant not only as a criminal investigation, but also as a test of how federal agencies respond to evolving threats around major public events. What remains unclear is the full scope of the alleged conspiracy, how many people are involved and what charges may follow. The FBI has not publicly confirmed the reported drone and sniper details, and the Secret Service has said more information will come through court filings.

The next developments are likely to come from those filings, along with any further statements from investigators about the arrests and the evidence recovered.

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