The FBI thwarted an alleged plot to use drones and sniper teams to harm attendees at Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 celebration at the White House, according to federal officials.
The suspected masterminds planned to use explosive drones to hit buildings nearby to cause confusion and force an evacuation of the event, the officials told Fox News.
Then, during the scramble, the plotters allegedly hoped that attendees would be steered towards their sniper team in waiting, the officials added.
After that, the suspects allegedly planned a ‘second wave’ attack that involved rushing the White House gates, officials revealed.
As of Monday, five people were taken into custody in connection with the plan. Investigators have identified 23 people potentially involved in planning.
The White House event drew around 4,300 attendees, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and countless other top Cabinet officials.
Just outside of the White House on the National Mall, thousands of people were in the area watching the UFC fights. June is a popular time for tourists to come to Washington, too, and America 250 events have drawn large crowds to the city.
Officials said the FBI was first tipped off to the scary plot on June 10 and worked with law enforcement to find probable cause for an arrest. One suspect was taken into custody in Cincinnati, according to officials.
The FBI and local authorities allegedly thwarted a plot to use explosive drones and sniper teams to target UFC Freedom 250 attendees. The event was attended by Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and countless other top Cabinet officials
One suspect allegedly told authorities the group was targeting ‘capitalist elites’ and ‘billionaires.’ Above, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg huddles with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
‘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,’ FBI Director Kash Patel said of the plot
The plotters allegedly discussed their plans in encrypted Signal chats, which investigators later accessed.
Officials said that at least 23 Signal users were involved in discussing the alleged plan, including operational details on how to carry it out.
Some of those in the chat went so far as to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, around June 12 or June 13 to prepare for the attack. The town is just about an hour’s drive south of Washington.
One suspect allegedly told authorities the group was targeting ‘capitalist elites’ and ‘billionaires.’
Several billionaires were there, including Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Paramount and CBS boss David Ellison, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and others.
Many in the presidential line of succession were also at the Sunday evening event.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and FBI Director Kash Patel were all there.
Also on the alleged target list were politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to sources.
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Does this alleged plot raise serious security concerns?
Ivanka Trump shared photos from President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 UFC fight at the White House
Many US officials in the presidential line of succession, including VP JD Vance, above, were in attendance at the UFC fight
Thousands of fans were in the area to watch at the White House and on the National Mall
‘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 of the plot.
‘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. That’s exactly what we did here,’ Patel said.
At least 12 FBI field offices were involved in thwarting the plan.
The FBI has been contacted for comment.
