FBI Foils Multi-Phase Terror Plot Targeting White House UFC Event With Explosive Drones and Snipers

A three-phase plan to strike the South Lawn

Court filings unsealed Tuesday reveal that the alleged plotters intended to launch explosive-laden drones over the north side of the UFC arena during Sunday's event, triggering a mass evacuation that would steer the crowd toward a pre-positioned sniper team, with a "second wave" of attackers then set to storm the White House gates.washingtonpost Investigators recovered firearms, ammunition, drone components, Signal chat logs involving roughly 19 people, and maps of Washington marked with planned sniper positions, drone launch points, and escape routes.washingtonpost FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests Tuesday on social media, writing that "in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold."nbcnews

The UFC Freedom 250 event — held on the White House South Lawn on June 15 to mark both President Trump's 80th birthday and America's 250th anniversary — drew an estimated 4,300 invited guests on the lawn and another 85,000 spectators nearby.bbc

Five charged across four states, investigation continuing

The Justice Department charged five men: Tycen Proper, 19, of Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, and Michael Alan Thomas, 32, both of California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Nebraska.bbc Each faces a maximum of life in prison on conspiracy to commit murder charges, with Proper facing additional counts that include conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds.bbc Prosecutors allege the group coalesced around March through a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old Republic" before migrating to Signal, where members discussed grievances over government corruption, the Epstein files, data centers, and antisemitic conspiracy theories.bbc

The tip that broke open the case came from Proper's mother, who called local police on June 10 after noticing her son's large firearms purchases and communications with strangers who claimed to be ex-military.nbcnews +1 Knox County sheriff's officers who responded found thousands of rounds of ammunition, an assault-style rifle, and a newly purchased bullpup rifle painted with an American flag.nbcnews When FBI agents interviewed Proper the following day, he admitted to the plot and identified his co-conspirators.washingtonpost

Alleged ringleader tied to DACA status

DHS identified Alvarez — who operated under the username "Shepherd" — as the alleged organizer responsible for planning the drone and sniper components and assigning roles to each member.dhs Court documents show "Shepherd" listed intended high-value targets, including what the FBI believes referred to President Trump, Vice President Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Elon Musk.bbc DHS noted Thursday that Alvarez, a Mexican national, entered the US on a B2 visitor visa that expired in December 2001 and was granted DACA status by the Obama administration in 2014.dhs ICE has lodged an immigration detainer against him.dhs

The Secret Service's deputy director, Matthew Quinn, said the event "was never at risk" and emphasized that his agency had led the investigation from the start and deliberately withheld news of the threat to preserve operational security.washingtonpost