FBI Foils Plot to Attack White House During UFC Event; Multiple Arrests Made
FBI disrupts alleged multi-state drone attack plot targeting White House UFC event.
US law enforcement authorities have said they disrupted an alleged plot to attack the White House during a mixed martial arts event held in the capital and attended by US President Donald Trump and other senior officials. The announcement was made by FBI Director Kash Patel, who stated that the operation prevented what he described as a coordinated threat linked to the event.
According to Patel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, working alongside partner agencies and the Department of Justice, carried out a multi-state operation that led to multiple arrests. He said the suspects were taken into custody after investigators acted on intelligence suggesting planned attacks targeting government buildings in the Washington area. Patel added that the coordinated response ensured the alleged plot was “stopped cold,” though he did not release detailed identities of those arrested.
Citing unnamed US officials, Fox News reported that five individuals had been detained and that investigators were examining a broader network of up to 23 people allegedly connected to the planning. The report claimed the suspected scheme involved the use of drones aimed at buildings near the White House during the Ultimate Fighting Championship event under the organization Ultimate Fighting Championship, with the intention of triggering a large-scale evacuation. It further alleged that such disruption could have been used to direct crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team, though these claims have not been independently verified by authorities.
The event in question, branded “UFC Freedom 250,” coincided with celebrations tied to the 250th anniversary of US independence and also fell on Trump’s 80th birthday, drawing significant public attention. The fight night was notably held at the White House complex as part of the commemorative programme, underscoring heightened security sensitivities around the gathering. Officials have not confirmed additional operational details, but the incident has raised renewed concerns over domestic security risks at high-profile public events in the US capital.
