FBI says it foiled alleged plot targeting White House UFC event attended by Trump

US law enforcement agencies say they have foiled an alleged plot to attack the White House during a crowded Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event attended by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced that multiple individuals had been taken into custody following a multi-state operation involving the FBI, the Department of Justice and other law enforcement partners. He said the planned attacks had been prevented before they could be carried out.

According to US media reports citing unnamed officials, five suspects were arrested while investigators identified 23 individuals who allegedly communicated through a Signal group chat as part of what authorities described as a potential network of plotters.

The alleged plan involved using explosive drones to strike buildings near the White House during the UFC event, triggering a mass evacuation before directing crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team. Investigators also alleged there were plans for a second wave of attackers to storm the White House gates.

Authorities have not disclosed whether those involved had taken concrete steps to execute the alleged attack. The FBI declined to provide additional details beyond Patel’s public statement.

The event, titled “UFC Freedom 250,” was held on the South Lawn of the White House, where a temporary arena known as “The Claw” was constructed. Thousands of spectators attended the event, which was also part of celebrations marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of US independence.

The US Secret Service said protective intelligence investigations have increased in recent years and credited its personnel for working around the clock in the days leading up to the event to identify and apprehend those allegedly involved.

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Trump has faced several security threats in recent years, with heightened protective measures remaining in place around presidential events.

Vice President JD Vance, who attended the UFC event, described the alleged plot as a coordinated terrorist plan during an interview with Fox News. He said the scale of the alleged attack was a likely reason authorities chose to disclose the investigation publicly.

Without identifying the suspects or providing evidence about their motives, Vance accused elements of the political left of contributing to a climate of political violence through anti-Trump rhetoric.

The White House has repeatedly argued that criticism of Trump by political opponents and sections of the media has fuelled political tensions, while critics of the administration have said Trump’s own rhetoric has contributed to increasing political divisions in the United States.