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FBI says it foiled ‘planned attacks’ targeting White House UFC event
TL;DR
The FBI has thwarted planned attacks targeting a UFC event at the White House, leading to multiple arrests. The threats were first identified on June 10, with reports suggesting the use of explosive-laden drones.
Key points
- FBI thwarted planned attacks on a UFC event at the White House
- Multiple individuals are in custody related to the threats
- Threats included explosive-laden drones targeting nearby buildings
- The FBI learned of the threats on June 10
- Twenty-three people were reportedly involved in the plot
Mentioned in this story
FBIKash PatelWhite House
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it thwarted “planned attacks” that targeted the UFC event at the White House on Sunday and that multiple people are in custody.
On Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency first learned about the threat on June 10 — days before the mixed martial arts event on the White House South Lawn celebrating US President Donald Trump’s birthday and marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“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 said in a post on X.
While the agency did not disclose the nature of the threat, Fox News Digital reported that the alleged plot involved using explosive-laden drones to hit buildings near the event, in a post that Patel linked to on X.
Twenty-three people were involved with the alleged plot, according to a report that also claimed the would-be attackers planned a “second wave” intended to storm the White House gates during the event.
The Fox News report claimed that an unspecified number of plotters planned to travel to Virginia on June 12–13 in preparation for the attack, according to Signal chats federal law enforcement officials obtained.
Five people were arrested from states including Ohio, Missouri and California, according to The Associated Press, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
The Secret Service “worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” Director Sean Curran said in a separate statement.
Vice President JD Vance said authorities were trying to look at the underground networks that would drive such violence.
“Twenty-three people do not get to the point where they’re going to commit a mass terror incident in Washington, DC without some serious funding, without some serious coordination,” Vance said in a Fox News interview.
“That’s not a few guys doing crazy stuff, that is a coordinated, planned terrorist plot,” he told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” programme.
President Trump, at the Group of Seven summit in Evian, France, said he had not been aware of the planned attack.
Q&A
What specific threats did the FBI thwart at the White House UFC event?
The FBI reported that the threats involved using explosive-laden drones to target buildings near the event.
How many individuals were arrested in connection with the planned attacks on the UFC event?
Multiple individuals are in custody, with reports indicating that 23 people were involved in the alleged plot.
When did the FBI first learn about the threats against the UFC event at the White House?
The FBI first learned about the threats on June 10, just days before the event celebrating President Trump's birthday.
