The FBI has disrupted an alleged plot to attack the UFC America 250 event at the White House, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. On June 10, the FBI, in collaboration with law enforcement partners, identified a potential threat involving individuals from outside the National Capital Region. As a result of a coordinated multi-state operation, several individuals have been taken into custody, and planned attacks were reportedly prevented.
Patel's statement referenced a report from Fox News, which detailed that the group allegedly intended to use drones equipped with explosives to target buildings near the event and to attack fleeing crowds with a sniper team. Additionally, there were reports of plans to storm the White House gate, although NBC News has not verified these details.
A senior law enforcement official described the plot as “quite serious.” Vice President JD Vance commented that the FBI's public disclosure was necessary due to the significant scale of the planned attack. President Donald Trump, when asked about the plot at the Group of Seven summit in France, stated he was unaware of it.
The Secret Service, in a statement, confirmed its collaboration with the FBI during the investigation and emphasized the importance of accountability through the justice system. Over the weekend, there was a heightened law enforcement presence around the White House, including roadblocks and fencing to manage crowds.
The motives behind the alleged plotters have not been disclosed. This incident follows a series of political violence and attempted attacks in the U.S., including an armed individual breaching a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and previous assassination attempts against Trump. The U.S. Capitol Police reported investigating nearly 15,000 threats against lawmakers last year, an increase from over 9,000 the previous year.