By FBI says plot to attack White House UFC event with drones thwarted
THe UFC Freedom 250 was held on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday. (Reuters: Evan Vucci)
In short:
US media says five people are in custody in connection with the plot, that involved flying explosive-laden drones towards buildings near last weekend’s White House UFC match.
FBI Director Kash Patel has confirmed his agency was aware of the threat.
What’s next?
US Vice President JD Vance says an investigation will look into the coordination of the plot.
The FBI says it has thwarted a potential threat ahead of the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts event in Washington last weekend and has multiple people in custody.
“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, DC involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement posted on X.
Mr Patel did not specify how many people were in custody after the multistate operation on the alleged planned attacks.
Fox News Digital cited unidentified sources as saying the alleged plot involved using explosive-laden drones to hit buildings near the event.
US President Donald Trump, who attended the weekend spectacle on the White House lawn, says he is unaware of the plot. (Getty Images: Chip Somodevilla)
Five people were in custody and 23 were identified as part of a network of plotters, Fox News Digital reported.
US President Donald Trump, at the G7 summit in Evian, France, said he had not heard about the planned attack.
Vice President JD Vance said authorities were trying to look at the underground networks that would drive such violence.
“Twenty-three people do not get to the point where they’re going to commit a mass terror incident in Washington, DC without some serious funding, without some serious coordination,” Mr Vance said in a Fox News interview.
“That’s not a few guys doing crazy stuff, that is a coordinated planned terrorist plot,” he told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” program.
Reuters
Originally published on www.abc.net.au — View original