The FBI succeeded in thwarting a potential threat aimed at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, as announced on Tuesday. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that a collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies led to a successful multi-state operation initiated on June 10.
Patel communicated through the platform X, disclosing that several individuals are in custody, effectively halting allegedly planned attacks. According to Fox News Digital reports, five people have been detained and 23 individuals were identified as part of an alleged network of plotters.
The alleged scheme reportedly involved using drones armed with explosives to target buildings near the event. Allegedly, there were also plans to breach the White House gate.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the event, alongside other members of the Trump family. High-profile attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, UFC CEO Dana White, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
In his post on X, Patel stated, “On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals from outside the National Capital Region. Thanks to the swift action of the 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.”
Patel recognized the exceptional investigative efforts of the teams involved, emphasizing their readiness to detect and respond to threats against American citizens, especially during significant events like the historic UFC 250 fight. “That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners. This work remains ongoing, and we will continue to update the public as permitted,” he added.
An FBI spokesperson referred Newsweek to Patel’s official statement, indicating that there is no further information available at this moment. The situation is still developing, and updates will follow as new information emerges.