Five Detained Over Alleged Planned Attacks on White House UFC Event
Law enforcement officials thwarted planned attacks targeting the UFC cage fighting event held at the White House this past weekend, with multiple individuals taken into custody, according to Kash Patel, the director.
The specific details of the potential threat have not been immediately disclosed, with further information expected upon the unsealing of charges later Tuesday.
Five people were arrested from states including Ohio, Missouri, and California, a law enforcement official familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information.
The FBI became aware of the possible threat on June 10, four days prior to the mixed-martial arts event on the White House’s South Lawn. Patel stated on X Tuesday morning that,
"thanks to the rapid action of the 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."
Donald Trump, who celebrated his 80th birthday at the UFC event on Sunday, connected the fights to broader celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Officials revealed that five individuals had been arrested and were in custody, and investigators identified 23 people potentially involved in a plot to attack the event. The alleged plan reportedly involved using explosive-laden drones, snipers, and possibly storming the White House gate.
There was no indication regarding the level of advancement or realism of the plot. Patel shared a link indicating that the FBI first became aware of the plot on June 10, which led to the initial arrest in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Fox News cited a statement from the Secret Service:
"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," said Sean Curran, the Secret Service director. "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."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
