&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "FBI foiled plot to attack Sunday’s UFC event at White House with explosive drones, says Kash Patel")
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) foiled an alleged plot to attack Sunday’s UFC fight at the White House, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X. The alleged plot targeted UFC Freedom 250, a high-profile White House event held on the South Lawn as part of President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday weekend. The event drew an estimated 4,300 attendees, including about 1,200 active-duty service members, as 14 fighters competed inside a wire mesh cage on Sunday night.
Patel, who heads the principal domestic intelligence and federal law enforcement agency of the United States, said in his post, “On June 10, FBI, and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C., involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and 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.”
Five in custody, 23 individuals part of plotters’ network
Five people were in custody as of Monday, and investigators have identified 23 individuals as part of a “potential network” of plotters.
The alleged plot comes amid a series of threats and security incidents involving Trump and senior administration officials, heightening concerns about political violence.
A senior law enforcement official told NBC News that the plot was “quite serious.”
Plan involved using explosive-laden drones to strike
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Italy will not...’: Meloni threatens Spain’s Schengen access after thousands enter Ceuta from Morocco
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Delhi Consumer Court fines Indian Railways Rs 25,000 for making RAC passengers share one blanket
)
Lift accident? Maintenance, builders & makers are ALL liable now, rules Supreme Court: 3 major regulations | WION Decodes
)
60,000 migrants from Morocco flood Spain's Ceuta, EU calls influx unacceptable, Trump warns US
)
Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal reveals why she warned Tom Holland and Zendaya against dating
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky fears 500,000 new Russian troops
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
Trump to charge foreign students $100,000 for a shot at a US job? Here's why Indian students should be worried
)
More than 100 Israeli soldiers walk out of base, chant slogans in an 'act of rebellion' | Watch
)
Monsoon set to strengthen in August as India's rainfall deficit narrows to 14%: IMD
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin mobilises more troops for Ukraine's war decisive invasion
)
'We have special forces': Netanyahu warns against any ICC arrest attempt abroad
)
Alert for torrential rains across Jammu division; flash flood risk over next five days
)
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke returns to Maharashtra, receives grand welcome in hometown
)
ICC announces 12 host venues for 2027 ODI World Cup
)
3.6mn people track 24hr Qantas flight from Melbourne to Toulouse: Pilot shifts, fuel tank and other details
)
British Airways flight comes close to 'nosediving' over London
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals
)
Pakistan avalanche: Four bodies found as search for Nirmal Purja and 9 other climbers enters critical phase
)
49,000 illegal migrants enter Spain from Morocco; 34 dead – What is happening in Ceuta?
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Kiara Advani reveals why she chose Toxic, says character offered her 'all the meat an actor longs for'
)
Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP's national spokesperson quits politics? Here's what sparked social media buzz
)
23ft python swallows man returning from party in Indonesia; family find body whole inside reptile
)
"Am I Worthy?" Ranbir Kapoor addresses backlash over playing Lord Ram in Ramayana: Part 1
)
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings
)
Karan Johar's The Traitors season 2 contestants: Rhea Chakraborty, Mallika Sherawat and Munawar Faruqui in the first batch
)
Have 7,000 Karnataka students tested positive for HIV? Here's the truth
)
Indian forces used pellet guns on Jul 20? SC hearing, police diary entry, MLC report and injured protesters' claims
)
'Living Nostradamus' warns of a new war, claims two of his 2026 predictions have come true
)
Student denied admission to IIT Kanpur's cybersecurity program hacks websites to prove a point
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 31, 2026): The Vacation Principle, Rao Bahadur, Chum- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
This Ramayana actor took ZERO fee from Rs 4000 crore film. Guess who?
)
Nearly Rs 29 crore cash, 15 kg gold found at ex-bus driver's house in West Bengal
Officials said the alleged plan involved using explosive-laden drones to strike buildings near the event, trigger a mass evacuation and funnel crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team. A second phase allegedly called for storming the White House gate.
The FBI came to know about the threat on June 10 and secured probable cause for an arrest in Cincinnati, where one suspect was taken into custody.
Investigators later uncovered Signal chats in which multiple people allegedly discussed attacking the UFC event. A review of one suspect’s iPhone revealed that at least 23 Signal users were discussing pre-operational activity, officials said.
Some participants allegedly planned to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or 13 to prepare for the attack.
One suspect allegedly told investigators the goal was to target “capitalist elites”, “billionaires” or politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, according to the report. The investigation spanned across 12 FBI field offices.
FBI Director Kash Patel credited agents, the Department of Justice and law enforcement partners with acting quickly across multiple states to stop the alleged plot.
Patel said the operation demonstrated the FBI’s ability to respond swiftly when threats emerge.
