by WorldTribune Staff, June 16, 2026 Non-AI Real World News

A multi-state terrorist operation to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House using snipers and explosives-laden drones was foiled by the FBI, bureau Director Kash Patel said.

Officials told Fox News that five people were in custody as of Monday, and that a total of 23 people were identified as being part of a network of people involved in the alleged plot.

According to the FBI, the plot involved the use of explosive-laden drones which would strike buildings in the area of the event, which took place on the White House South Lawn. The explosions would force a mass evacuation, steering the crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team. A second wave was also allegedly planned which would storm the White House gate, the FBI said.

“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region – and 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,” Patel said.

“While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team – 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,” he added.

A dozen FBI offices around the country were involved in the investigation, and one of the first arrests occurred in Cincinnati, officials said.

Investigators later uncovered Signal chats in which multiple people allegedly discussed attacking the UFC event. An initial review of one suspect’s iPhone identified at least 23 Signal users discussing pre-operational activity, Fox News cited officials as saying.

One suspect allegedly told investigators the goal was to target “capitalist elites,” “billionaires” or politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Fox News Digital report said.

Former FBI agent Jason Pack told Fox News Digital that the alleged scheme appeared to have moved beyond online rhetoric and into operational planning.

“This was a real threat,” Pack said, describing it as “organized political violence with specific targets.”

He said the most troubling aspect was the apparent “shift from ideology to actual preparation,” including recruitment across multiple states, encrypted communications, logistical planning and identifying staging areas.

While Pack questioned whether every phase of the alleged plot would have succeeded, he said parts of it appeared technically feasible and would have likely led to fatalities.

Pack also pointed to the role of human intelligence in disrupting the alleged network, saying the investigation began after “somebody’s family member got worried and called it in.”

Freedom Rocks! Until It Is Gone

  FBI-DOJ thwarted multi-state drone-sniper plot targeting UFC Freedom 250, WorldTribune.com