Topline
The FBI foiled attempted “planned attacks” on the Freedom 250 UFC event on the White House lawn that took place on Sunday, the agency’s director Kash Patel said in a statement on social media Tuesday, and “multiple individuals” connected to the plot are now in custody.
Patel offered few immediate details about the plot, but Fox News reported five people were in custody for a plan that involved explosive drones and a sniper team.
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Key Facts
Patel did not say how many people were arrested, nor did he offer immediate details about the plot, but unnamed officials told Fox News Digital five people were in custody for the alleged attack plan.
The FBI director said the agency became aware of the plot on June 10 involving people from “outside of the National Capital Region,” and the Associated Press later reported arrests were made in Ohio, Missouri and California, citing anonymous law enforcement officials.
In a subsequent statement on X, Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran said his department worked with the FBI in the days leading up to the event “to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” noting further details would be made available in court filings.
The plotters were planning to attack nearby buildings with drones equipped with explosives, then target the crowd with a sniper team while people fled from the fight, according to the Fox News report.
When reached for comment, the FBI referred Forbes to Patel’s post on X and said it had nothing additional to add at this time.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.