FBI Reveals Additional Details On Explosive Drone Attack
Federal authorities say they disrupted an alleged terror plot targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event held Sunday on the White House South Lawn, preventing what investigators believe could have been a mass-casualty attack involving explosive drones, sniper fire, and a planned assault on White House grounds.
According to officials cited by The New York Post and first reported by Fox News Digital, the FBI has taken five suspects into custody in connection with the alleged conspiracy. Investigators say the attack plan was uncovered and stopped before any operational phase could begin.
Authorities allege the plot involved multiple stages. The first phase reportedly called for explosive-laden drones to strike areas surrounding the UFC event, creating chaos and panic among attendees. As crowds fled the scene, investigators say a sniper team was allegedly positioned to target victims caught in the confusion.
Officials further allege that a second group of attackers intended to exploit the disorder by attempting to breach the White House perimeter.
The FBI reportedly moved against the suspects on June 10 after obtaining and executing a search warrant in Cincinnati, where the first arrest was made. FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation effectively ended the threat before it could advance further.
“The plot was stopped cold,” Patel said in a statement.
According to investigators, some suspects later traveled to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or June 13 as part of preparations related to the planned attack. During the investigation, authorities reportedly examined one suspect’s iPhone and discovered communications involving at least 23 users on the encrypted messaging platform Signal.
Officials said discussions allegedly focused on attack logistics and operational details.
Investigators also claim one suspect stated that the intended targets included “capitalist elites,” billionaires, and politicians who had received support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, commonly known as AIPAC.
Patel later praised the law enforcement effort on social media, highlighting the coordination between federal agencies and investigators.
“While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team,” Patel wrote on X. “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.”
The event itself was one of the highest-profile public gatherings held in Washington this year. The UFC card coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebration and drew approximately 4,300 attendees to the White House South Lawn, including roughly 1,200 active-duty service members.
Beyond the official venue, tens of thousands more spectators gathered nearby. Officials estimated that between 80,000 and 85,000 people attended a ticketed watch party on the Ellipse south of the White House, while additional crowds assembled on the National Mall to watch the fights on large video screens.
Given the size of the audience and the symbolic significance of the location, investigators believe the alleged attack could have had devastating consequences if carried out as described.