FBI thwarts multi-drone terror plot targeting Trump’s White House UFC event

Washington — US federal authorities have disrupted an alleged, multi-phase terror plot intended to target a mixed martial arts event held on the White House South Lawn, leading to the arrest of at least five individuals across multiple states.

The FBI director, Kash Patel, announced on Tuesday that law enforcement and the Department of Justice intercepted a “potential network of plotters” who were allegedly planning to unleash chaos during Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 show. The event, which proceeded without incident, was attended by Donald Trump to mark his 80th birthday and kick off the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. According to anonymous law enforcement sources who spoke to US media, the plot was sophisticated and designed to inflict mass casualties. The alleged conspirators planned to deploy drones packed with explosives to strike buildings near the White House, aiming to trigger a mass evacuation of the roughly 4,300 spectators.

As the panicked crowd fled the area, they were to be funnelled towards a “pre-staged sniper team.” The chaotic scene was then allegedly supposed to be followed by a “second wave” involving a physical breach of the White House gates.

Officials suggested the intended targets were “capitalist elites”, “billionaires”, and politicians who have accepted campaign donations from the pro-Israel lobbying group Aipac.

The FBI first became aware of the threat on 10 June—four days before the cage fighting show took place—after receiving a tip-off from a concerned relative who noticed a family member exhibiting troubling behaviour and discussing nefarious plans in Washington.

That tip led investigators to uncover an informal network communicating on the encrypted messaging app Signal. Officials say at least 23 people were participating in the chats, discussing “pre-operational activity” and the use of drones.

“Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel wrote in a statement posted to X.

He added: “We are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight.”

A rapid, coordinated operation involving at least a dozen FBI field offices led to five initial arrests in Ohio, Missouri, and California. One of the first individuals to be detained was apprehended in Cincinnati.

The specific identities of the suspects and the exact federal charges have not yet been made public, though court documents are expected to be unsealed later on Tuesday. Secret Service officials confirmed they are working closely with the FBI, noting that the airspace over the National Capital Region is heavily restricted and monitored for unauthorised drone activity.

Despite the alleged threat, the weekend’s fights went ahead smoothly on a specially constructed octagon on the South Lawn, with Trump seated in the front row among thousands of attendees, including numerous active-duty military personnel.