Federal law enforcement officials say a coordinated operation involving the FBI, the Department of Justice, the Secret Service, and other agencies successfully disrupted an alleged plot targeting this weekend’s UFC Freedom 250 event in Washington, D.C., preventing what investigators described as a potentially devastating attack.
According to officials who spoke with Fox News Digital, five individuals were in custody as of Monday, while investigators identified a broader network of 23 people allegedly connected to the planning effort.
Authorities said the alleged scheme involved the use of explosive-laden drones aimed at buildings near the UFC Freedom 250 event. Investigators believe the purpose of those strikes would have been to trigger panic and force a large-scale evacuation of attendees. Officials said the plan allegedly called for crowds to be funneled toward a pre-positioned sniper team waiting nearby.
According to law enforcement sources, a second phase of the alleged operation was also discussed. Officials said that after the initial chaos, participants allegedly planned to storm the White House gate.
The FBI first became aware of the threat on June 10 and immediately began working with law enforcement partners to investigate. Officials said agents secured probable cause for an arrest in Cincinnati, where one suspect was ultimately taken into custody.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it played a significant role throughout the investigation.
“In the days leading up to this weekend, our special agents, mission support personnel, and technical security teams worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement.
Curran added that additional details regarding the case would be addressed through court proceedings.
As investigators dug deeper into the alleged conspiracy, authorities reportedly uncovered Signal chat conversations involving multiple individuals discussing plans related to attacking the UFC event. Officials said an initial examination of one suspect’s iPhone revealed at least 23 Signal users discussing what investigators characterized as pre-operational activity.
Some individuals allegedly involved in the plot were reportedly planning to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or June 13 as part of preparations for the attack.
Officials also said one suspect allegedly told investigators that the intended targets included what he described as “capitalist elites,” “billionaires,” or politicians who had received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The investigation ultimately stretched across at least 12 FBI field offices, underscoring the scale of the operation and the urgency with which authorities responded.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised agents and law enforcement partners for moving quickly across multiple states to stop the alleged attack before it could be carried out.
“Multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said, crediting the FBI, DOJ, and partner agencies for their efforts.
Patel said the case demonstrated the bureau’s ability to respond rapidly when threats emerge, particularly during major public gatherings.
The alleged target was UFC Freedom 250, a high-profile event held on the South Lawn of the White House as part of President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday weekend celebration. Officials said the event attracted roughly 4,300 attendees, including approximately 1,200 active-duty service members, while fighters from around the world competed Sunday night.
Appearing on Fox & Friends, Vice President JD Vance described the allegations as “very, very dark stuff” and argued that heated political rhetoric can contribute to an atmosphere where violence becomes more likely.
Vance urged political leaders and the public alike to lower the temperature of political discourse, warning that disagreements should never become a justification for violence.
The alleged plot comes as concerns about political violence continue to grow amid a series of threats and security incidents involving Trump and senior administration officials. While investigators say this attack was stopped before it could be carried out, the case serves as another reminder of the serious consequences that can arise when political conflicts escalate beyond words and into violence.
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