Federal authorities said on Tuesday that the FBI, working with the Secret Service and the Department of Justice, had disrupted an elaborate plot to attack the UFC cage-fighting spectacle staged at the White House on Sunday, President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Five people have been taken into custody across Ohio, Missouri and California, FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X, calling the operation “a multi-state success that stopped alleged attacks in their tracks.”

According to Patel, federal officials first learned of the potential threat from outside the Washington, D.C. area on 10 June. He said explosive-laden drones were to have been detonated to force an evacuation, steering crowds toward designated sniper positions. A review of one suspect’s phone, Patel wrote, revealed at least 23 Signal users discussing the plan. The Secret Service, which coordinated with the FBI throughout the investigation, confirmed it had worked “closely with federal partners” but declined to provide further detail.

The UFC Freedom 250 event on Sunday drew the president, senior administration officials and family members to a high-profile celebration that coincided with Trump’s birthday. Security agencies are now bracing for additional mass gatherings tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, including a Fourth of July celebration that the president has described as “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all.” The Secret Service has designated the Independence Day event a National Special Security Event, a designation typically reserved for presidential inaugurations.

International outlets echoed the FBI’s account. Germany’s *Tagesspiegel* reported that authorities had prevented an assault involving armed drones and an attempted storming of the White House, while Austria’s ORF described the thwarted attack as targeting the “cage fights in front of the White House.” Romanian newspaper *Adevarul* said documents indicated suspects planned to strike nearby buildings with explosive drones. Hungarian weekly *HVG* reported that a 19-year-old man allegedly organised the group, which had begun organising on social media as early as spring and aimed to “eliminate wealthy people and politicians fleeing the White House.”

The announcement follows a string of recent security incidents, including a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, and comes as U.S. law enforcement grapples with elevated political violence. Patel’s statement did not specify whether any charges have been filed, and the FBI declined to provide additional details beyond the director’s post. The investigation remains active, with authorities expected to provide further updates as the case develops.

Source Intelligence

13 sources9 countries

Geographic Origin12 located

1 further source not geolocated

Political Spectrum11 mapped

Articles

Misstänks planerat attentat Flera gripna • Planen under Trumps firande

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hvg.hu · about 3 hours ago

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dagens nyheter · about 3 hours ago

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adevarul · about 3 hours ago

FBI: Anschlag auf Trumps Käfigkämpfe vereitelt

orf.at · about 3 hours ago

FBI foiled alleged plot targeting Trumps UFC event, Patel says Multiple people are in custody after the FBI disrupted an alleged threat against President Trumps White House UFC event, FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday.The big picture: There have been several attempts on Trumps life, including a recent shooting at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, as law enforcement reckons with a period of elevated political violence.Driving the news: Federal officials and law enforcement partners learned of a potential threat from people outside the Washington, D.C., area on June 10, Patel said on X.He said that "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."Catch up quick: The president, along with members of his administration and family, attended the rowdy spectacle on White House grounds Sunday that coincided with his 80th birthday.Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement that his agency worked closely with the FBI throughout the investigation.Zoom in: Five people are in custody, according to Fox News, which was first to report on the alleged plot. Officials told the outlet the plan involved using explosive-laden drones to force an evacuation and steer people toward snipers.Foxs report, which Patel shared on X, also said that a review of one suspects phone identified at least 23 Signal users discussing the operation.Reached for comment, the FBI did not share additional details beyond Patels post.Between the lines: The UFC Freedom 250 event is one of several mass gatherings planned around the nations 250th anniversary, including a July 4th celebration that the president has pitched as "the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all."D.C. security is ramping up accordingly, Axios D.C.s Cuneyt Dil reported. Secret Service is taking the lead on the Fourth of July, designating it a National Special Security Event, a label usually reserved for occasions like a presidential inauguration. Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

axios · about 3 hours ago

Trumps White House UFC fight was targeted by explosive drone and sniper plot, FBI reveals Five people were arrested for their role in the alleged plot, officials said

independent · about 3 hours ago

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independent · about 3 hours ago

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aljazeera · about 3 hours ago

FBI claims to have foiled planned attack on White House cage fight event Multiple arrests made in multi-state operation to disrupt alleged drone and gun plot targeting Trump birthdaySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailLaw enforcement officials disrupted an attempt to attack the UFC cage fighting event staged at the White House on Sunday with guns and explosive-laden drones, and multiple people were in custody, federal US authorities said.Five people were arrested from states including Ohio, Missouri and California, said a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. The official spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss information that was not yet public. Continue reading...

theguardian · about 3 hours ago

„Im Keim erstickt – FBI soll Anschlag auf Trumps Käfigkämpfe vereitelt haben Mit Sprengstoff beladene Drohnen hätten zum Einsatz kommen sollen. Anschließend sollte das Weiße Haus gestürmt werden. Laut Angaben von FBI-Direktor Patel habe die US-Bundespolizei einen Anschlag auf die Feier zum Unabhängigkeitstag verhindern können.

welt.de · about 3 hours ago

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tagesspiegel · about 3 hours ago

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tagesspiegel · about 3 hours ago

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digi24 · about 3 hours ago