FBI foils plot targeting White House UFC event, five arrested across multiple states
The FBI announced the arrest of five individuals suspected of planning an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House. The multi-state operation neutralized the threat before it could materialize.
United States law enforcement has arrested five individuals suspected of plotting attacks on the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Tuesday. Patel said the FBI first learned of a potential threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts event, and quickly moved alongside partners at the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation.
The five individuals were arrested across Ohio, Missouri, and California, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, as formal charges had not yet been made public. The charges were expected to be unsealed later Tuesday, revealing full details of the alleged plot.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran confirmed the agency's involvement, stating it had worked around the clock to identify those responsible. The event in question was the UFC Freedom 250, a high-profile spectacle marking President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Held in a purpose-built arena on the South Lawn, it was the first professional sporting event ever to take place at the White House. Approximately 4,300 tickets were allocated, mostly to military personnel, with an additional 85,000 watching on big screens at the Ellipse.
The event had been controversial due to its estimated $60 million cost, musical acts withdrawing, and a legal challenge attempting to block it. Security measures were already heightened, with federal drone flight restrictions and Secret Service advisories. The arrests come amid ongoing scrutiny of domestic security threats at large-scale, high-visibility federal events.
