FBI Says It Thwarted Plot Using Explosive Drones and Shooters at White House UFC Event

Overview

• The FBI announced on Tuesday that it disrupted an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House and that a multistate operation has resulted in multiple detentions.
• Investigators say they first learned of a potential threat on June 10 and that an arrest in Cincinnati plus messages in a Signal chat helped trace planning for the scheme.
• Officials and reporting describe a multi‑stage plan that would have used drones fitted with explosives to strike nearby buildings, force a mass evacuation toward waiting shooter teams, and follow with a second wave aimed at White House gates.
• Authorities report that five people have been detained so far and that about 23 individuals have been identified for investigation, though specific charges and full identities have not been publicly disclosed.
• The case raises security concerns because President Donald Trump attended the event and officials say probes will focus on how the plot was financed and organized and whether more arrests are needed.