National Security
FBI Thwarts Explosive Drone Plot Targeting UFC Event at White House
The FBI has foiled a domestic terror plot involving explosive drones and mass shooting plans targeting a UFC event on the White House South Lawn.
Unsealed Documents Reveal Complex Attack Plan
Federal law enforcement officials have disrupted a sophisticated domestic terrorism plot aimed at a high-profile mixed martial arts event held on the White House South Lawn this past weekend. According to court documents unsealed Tuesday, a group of individuals planned to use explosives-laden drones and firearms to target the UFC show attended by high-ranking officials and President Donald Trump.
The Nature of the Threat
The FBI discovered the plot after gaining access to encrypted communications between approximately 20 participants. The group, which reportedly communicated via TikTok and the SimpleX chat app, allegedly planned to fly drones into the event to create a diversionary explosion. The suspects then intended to open fire on the panicked crowd as they attempted to flee the area. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that a multi-state operation led to several arrests, effectively stopping the planned attacks "cold."
Motivations and Arrests
The group, identifying themselves through online circles such as "Vanguard of the Old," expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current state of the U.S. government. Affidavits suggest the suspects believed the country needed to be "torn down so that it could be rebuilt." Among those in custody is Tycen Proper, a 19-year-old from Ohio, whose own mother alerted authorities after becoming concerned by his firearm purchases and interactions with individuals claiming to be ex-military.
Broader Political Targets
In addition to the UFC event, investigators found that members of the group had discussed targeting specific members of Congress, particularly those with ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Despite the intended scale of the violence, President Trump, who was attending the G7 summit in France at the time the details were made public, stated he had not yet been briefed on the specifics of the thwarted operation. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full scope of the network.