FBI foils an alleged plot to attack White House fight night; FBI
FBI foils an alleged plot to attack White House fight night; FBI
US law enforcement on Tuesday said it had foiled a plot to attack the White House during a crowded mixed martial arts event attended by President Donald Trump and other top officials.
“Thanks to the rapid action of this 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,” FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X.
His post included a caption of a Fox News headline reading: “FBI disrupts alleged explosive-drone plot targeting White House UFC event, officials say.”
Trump on Sunday joined thousands of fans at the unprecedented White House fights, where a temporary arena dubbed “The Claw” was erected on the South Lawn.
Fox News reported that five people had been taken into custody, according to unnamed US officials, with investigators identifying 23 people in a “potential network of plotters” who allegedly communicated in a Signal group chat.
The plan allegedly would have involved using drones to hit buildings near the White House during the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contest, thereby prompting a mass evacuation that would “steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team,” Fox News said.
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There were also allegedly plans to storm the White House gates with a “second wave,” the report said.
It was not clear if people involved in the alleged plot had taken any steps to carry out an attack. The White House is protected by intense surveillance, fencing, checkpoints, anti-air-attack capabilities, snipers and a permanent group of quick-reaction forces.
Asked for further details about Patel’s announcement, the FBI told AFP “we have nothing to add to the post at this time.”
The June 14 “UFC Freedom 250” event — which also fell on Trump’s 80th birthday — was meant to kick off this year’s festivities for the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Fox News reported that the FBI learned of the threat on June 10.
Trump has faced several assassination attempts in recent years, most recently when a gunman attempted to storm a White House press gala he was attending in April.
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