U.S. authorities thwarted an alleged terrorist plot to attack the White House during the UFC Freedom 250 event, a sports exhibition held on the South Lawn that gathered thousands of people and coincided with the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump.
The investigation, led by the FBI, culminated in the arrest of five suspects and the identification of a broader network of individuals who allegedly participated in planning the attack.
According to federal sources, the plan involved the use of drones loaded with explosives, sniper equipment, and a subsequent armed incursion into the presidential complex, in an operation designed to generate mass panic and cause a high number of casualties.
A multi-phase plan to create a massacre
The investigation began on June 10, when FBI agents detected suspicious conversations on encrypted messaging platforms.
Based on that information, authorities conducted a series of coordinated operations in more than a dozen states, including Ohio, California, and Missouri.
According to court documents, the plan unfolded in three stages:
Explosive drone attacks against buildings near the event.
Provoking a stampede among attendees.
Directing the crowd toward an area where snipers would open fire.
A second wave of attackers would attempt to enter the White House complex.
