The FBI arrested five American citizens on June 16, 2026, after disrupting an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House South Lawn using explosive-laden drones and a coordinated sniper team. The suspects — from Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California — allegedly organized the scheme through an encrypted Signal group chat, mapping out drone positions, sniper placements, and escape routes.
According to the Department of Justice, the plan involved deploying explosive drones near buildings close to the event to force a mass evacuation, then funneling panicked crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team. A second wave was allegedly planned to storm the White House gate. The investigation was triggered on June 10 when one suspect's mother contacted local police, alarmed by her son's firearm purchases and online communications. The suspects have been identified as Tycen Proper of Ohio, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez of Nebraska, and Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas of California.
The alleged attackers reportedly sought to target "capitalist elites," "billionaires," and politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). FBI Director Kash Patel credited the bureau's vigilance for preventing what could have become a mass-casualty event. No foreign involvement was found in the investigation.