Federal authorities have disrupted what the FBI director called “planned attacks” aimed at a UFC cage-fighting event that took place at the White House this past weekend, with several suspects now behind bars, FBI Director Kash Patel announced Tuesday.
The specific nature of the alleged threat had not yet been made public, with officials indicating more details would come once formal charges were unsealed later in the day.
A law enforcement official familiar with the situation, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the information had not yet been officially released, said five individuals were arrested across multiple states, including Ohio, Missouri, and California.
According to Patel, the FBI first became aware of the possible threat on June 10 — four days before the mixed-martial arts event on the White House’s South Lawn. “Thanks to the rapid action of the FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel wrote in a post on X Tuesday morning.
President Donald Trump, who turned 80 years old at the UFC event on Sunday, had framed the fights as part of broader celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
