The FBI and its law enforcement partners successfully disrupted a dangerous plot targeting the historic UFC Freedom 250 event in Washington, D.C. Federal officials confirmed the massive safety operation to Fox News Digital.
Five suspects remain in custody as of Monday. Investigators have already identified 23 people as part of a potential network of plotters.
The alleged plan involved using explosive-laden drones to hit structures near the outdoor event. The plotters hoped to force a mass evacuation and steer terrified crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team.
A second wave of attackers then allegedly planned to storm the White House gate. The coordinated assault threatened thousands of spectators gathered at the historic venue.
The UFC Freed 250 Arena on the White House South Lawn. Source: LA Times
The FBI first learned of the imminent threat on June 10. Agents worked quickly with partners to secure probable cause for an arrest in Cincinnati, where one suspect was taken into custody.
The U.S. Secret Service worked closely with the FBI throughout the intense investigation. The agencies moved fast to protect the president and attendees.
"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. "Equally important to our protective mission is ensuring accountability through the justice system. To that end, our formal comments regarding the specifics of this case will be made through court filings."
Investigators later uncovered hidden Signal chats. Multiple individuals allegedly used the encrypted platform to discuss attacking the live UFC event.
An initial review of a suspect’s iPhone identified at least 23 Signal users discussing pre-operational activity. Some plotters allegedly planned to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or 13 to prepare for the violent strike.
One suspect allegedly told investigators the goal was to target capitalist elites and billionaires. They also intended to target politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The massive investigation stretched across at least 12 different FBI field offices. Federal agents worked seamlessly across state lines to neutralize the threat.
FBI Director Kash Patel credited the rapid response of the bureau and the Department of Justice for saving lives. He praised the law enforcement teams for acting swiftly across multiple states.
"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 statement to Fox News Digital. Patel said the operation showed the FBI’s ability to respond quickly when threats emerge.
"While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team," Patel said. "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."
"I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing, and we will continue to update the public as permitted," Patel added.
The thwarted plot directly targeted UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn. The high-profile event was held as part of President Donald Trump's 80th birthday weekend celebrations.
The outdoor event drew an estimated 4,300 attendees. The patriotic crowd included about 1,200 active-duty service members who watched 14 international fighters compete inside the wire-mesh cage.
Reacting to the terrifying news on FOX & Friends on Tuesday morning, Vice President JD Vance called the plot very dark stuff. He called on political leaders to address the rising tide of hostility.
"This is what happens when people turn the rhetoric up so loud that disagreeing with somebody is a cause for violence," Vance said. "We got to tell everybody to tone it down."
"Everybody has a role to cut this stuff out," Vance continued. "But I think a lot of my Democratic colleagues in Washington have got to look themselves in the mirror and say, why is so much of this political violence coming from our side of the spectrum?"
The dangerous plot comes amid a growing series of threats and security incidents involving President Trump and his senior administration officials. The situation continues to fuel heightened concerns about political violence across the nation.