FBI Foils Alleged Drone And Sniper Plot Targeting UFC Freedom 250 Near White House

Another big stop for Patel & co.

Federal authorities say they disrupted an alleged plot targeting this weekend’s UFC Freedom 250 celebration in Washington, D.C., arresting five people and identifying what investigators described as a broader network of suspected conspirators.

According to officials who spoke with Fox News Digital, the alleged scheme involved a coordinated, multi-stage attack designed to create chaos near the high-profile event, which is expected to draw major political figures, celebrities and thousands of attendees.

Investigators said the alleged plan called for explosive-laden drones to strike buildings near the event venue, triggering panic and forcing a mass evacuation.

Authorities allege the suspects intended to funnel fleeing crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team that would then open fire.

Officials said a second phase of the operation allegedly involved storming the White House gate amid the confusion.

The FBI first became aware of the threat on June 10 and began working with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to develop probable cause and identify those involved.

One suspect was later taken into custody in Cincinnati, according to officials.

Investigators subsequently uncovered Signal chat groups in which multiple users allegedly discussed operational planning and logistics connected to the attack.

A review of one suspect’s iPhone reportedly identified at least 23 Signal users involved in conversations about pre-operational activity.

Officials said some members of the group allegedly planned to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or June 13 to prepare for the operation.

BREAKING: The FBI says it thwarted a drone attack targeting Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.

Five suspects are in custody after allegedly plotting a multi-phase terror attack that involved using explosive-laden drones to strike buildings near the… pic.twitter.com/VRjdAvzXu3

— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) June 16, 2026

According to investigators, one suspect allegedly told authorities the intended targets included “capitalist elites,” “billionaires,” and politicians who had received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, commonly known as AIPAC.

The investigation ultimately expanded across at least 12 FBI field offices as agents worked to identify participants and determine the full scope of the alleged network.

The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it played a role in the operation.

“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,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement.

“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.”

Officials have not yet released the identities of those arrested, and federal court records detailing the charges were not immediately available.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 16, 2026