Federal agents say they stopped a deadly attack before it could unfold at a UFC Fight Night event hosted on the White House grounds, with investigators alleging the scheme also included plans to go after members of Congress known for their support of Israel.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that five individuals were involved in the alleged conspiracy. Court documents state the group planned to carry out the attack during the June 14 event held on White House property.
According to an FBI criminal complaint, 19-year-old Tycen Proper allegedly helped identify potential targets by circulating material from TrackAIPAC.com — a website that tracks lawmakers based on their ties to pro-Israel political action committees and their positions on Israel-related issues.
Court records allege that during a May 13 conversation with other suspects, Proper suggested targeting U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn. When questioned about why she was chosen, he allegedly said, “She’s taken money from the Israel pro-Israel [sic] lobby and supports them.”
The complaint also alleges that Proper later sent a text message stating, “These are people we’re going to focus on,” along with photographs of two U.S. senators and two members of the House of Representatives.
Investigators say the attack was designed to use drones to create panic among the crowd, driving fleeing spectators toward a pre-positioned sniper. Court filings further allege that a “second wave” of attackers was planned to storm the White House gate.
The event drew approximately 4,300 invited guests to the South Lawn, with around 85,000 more people watching from a nearby fan zone. Fourteen mixed martial arts fighters competed during the Sunday program.
The investigation into Proper was launched after his mother contacted local law enforcement on the night of June 10, raising alarms about large firearms purchases and online communications she had seen.
During the course of the investigation, Proper’s father and grandmother told authorities that he had recently expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and had been posting antisemitic content on social media, according to the complaint.
Law enforcement stepped in before the attack could be carried out, preventing what authorities describe as a potentially catastrophic event.
