FBI foils 'explosive-laden drone' attack on UFC White House event, five people in custody

Court papers unsealed Tuesday say federal law enforcement disrupted a planned attack targeting the UFC show staged on the White House South Lawn, with investigators describing a multi-state plot involving explosives-laden drones and gunfire aimed at people fleeing the scene.

The reporting, first detailed by the Associated Press, says five people were arrested in connection with the alleged plot. Among those named in the court records was 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio.

The papers say the FBI learned of a possible threat on June 10, moved on the case before the event was held on June 14, and later saw the case become public on June 16 after the records were unsealed.

What investigators say happened

According to the court records summarized by AP, investigators obtained encrypted text messages among roughly 20 participants. Those messages reportedly included detailed maps of the area, along with discussion of a safe house and escape routes.

The alleged plan, as described in the papers, involved using explosive-laden drones and then shooting crowd members as they fled. AP reported that it is still unclear from the records how close the attackers came to carrying out the plan before it was disrupted.

The White House UFC event itself had already taken place on Sunday, June 14, before the case became public.

Arrests and charges

The five arrests were made across several states, including Ohio, Missouri and California, according to the reporting.

AP said Proper’s mother had contacted local law enforcement last week with concerns about his firearms purchases and online communications. The reporting also says Proper later admitted in an interview with law enforcement that he participated in planning the attack.

He faces charges including firearms offenses and attempted murder of an officer or employee of the United States, AP reported. The court papers described him as one of the arrested suspects, but they did not fully outline the charges against the other defendants.

Official response and security stakes

FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that the bureau, its partners and the Justice Department carried out a multi-state operation and stopped the planned attacks cold.

The case raises fresh security questions around large events at the White House and the safeguards surrounding high-profile political and sporting gatherings. The event had been tied to President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The broader case, according to the court papers, appears to involve an encrypted online group rather than a lone actor. That detail, along with the maps, safe-house discussion and escape planning described in the records, suggests investigators were dealing with a more organized network.

What happens next

Court proceedings for the arrested suspects are expected to continue. More details could emerge from the unsealed affidavits, detention hearings and any future Justice Department filings.

Authorities may also disclose additional defendants or charges as the case develops. For now, the available records establish only that federal officials say they moved before the White House South Lawn event and that five people are in custody in connection with the alleged plot.