US law enforcement officials have said they disrupted an alleged coordinated plot to attack the White House during a mixed martial arts event attended by President Donald Trump, with several suspects now in custody.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that “multiple individuals are now in custody” after what he described as a rapidly executed investigation that prevented the planned assault. He said the scheme was “stopped cold” before it could be carried out.
According to the Department of Justice, five men have been charged in connection with the alleged plot. Prosecutors say the group planned to deploy drones loaded with explosives over a large public gathering, forcing an evacuation that would then allow sniper attacks on what they referred to as “high-value targets” within the crowd.
One of those arrested, 19-year-old Tycen Proper, was taken into custody in Ohio on 10 June after his mother reportedly alerted authorities about his online communications with an extremist group. The DOJ alleges that Proper stockpiled firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical equipment at his home, and had identified potential targets, including members of Congress.
The alleged plot coincided with a high-profile UFC event held on the White House grounds, where President Trump joined thousands of attendees at a temporary arena constructed on the South Lawn. The event, branded “UFC Freedom 250,” was part of celebrations marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of US independence.
Security around the White House was already heightened, with multiple layers of protection including surveillance systems, fencing, checkpoints, counter-drone technology, armed snipers, and rapid-response units.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said security teams had worked continuously in the days leading up to the event to identify and neutralise any threats. He said agents, technical specialists and support personnel coordinated efforts to prevent the alleged attack from progressing.
Vice President JD Vance, who also attended the event, said he was only informed of the alleged plot shortly before speaking publicly. He described the case as a “coordinated planned terrorist plot” and suggested the scale of the intended attack justified public disclosure by the FBI.
Vance also linked the case to broader concerns about political violence in the United States, arguing that radical networks and divisive rhetoric were contributing factors. He accused political opponents of failing to address rising tensions.
The White House has previously argued that criticism of President Trump and his policies has fuelled hostility, while opponents of the administration say Trump’s own rhetoric toward critics, immigrants and electoral institutions has intensified the political climate.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the suspects’ broader motivations, and investigations into the alleged network are continuing.
