FBIThwarts Planned Attacks Aimed at White House UFC Celebration

At least five people are in custody in an alleged plot that included 23 people according to US media reports

16 Jun 2026

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it thwarted “planned attacks” that targeted the UFC event at the White House on Sunday and that multiple people are in custody.

On Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the agency first became aware of the threat on June 10, just days before the mixed‑martial‑arts event scheduled for the White House South Lawn, which was organized to celebrate President Donald Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Patel explained that thanks to the swift response of the FBI, its partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi‑state operation, multiple suspects are now in custody and the alleged attacks were thwarted.

Although the FBI has not disclosed details of the threat, Fox News Digital reported that the alleged scheme involved deploying drones equipped with explosives to target buildings near the venue, a claim that Patel linked on X.

The Fox News report indicated that 23 individuals were linked to the plot and that they had planned a secondary wave aimed at breaching the White House gates during the event.

According to the report, the alleged conspirators intended to travel to Virginia on June 12–13 to prepare for the attack, communications about which were intercepted in Signal messages obtained by federal investigators.

Five individuals were apprehended in Ohio, Missouri, and California, as reported by The Associated Press, citing law‑enforcement sources who wished to remain anonymous.

The Secret Service said it worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable, Director Sean Curran added in a separate statement.

Vice President JD Vance remarked that authorities are examining the underground networks that enable such violence.

“That’s not a few guys doing crazy stuff; this is a coordinated, planned terrorist plot,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”

President Trump, attending the Group of Seven summit in Evian, France, said he had not been briefed about the alleged plot.

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