The FBI announced it foiled a large-scale attack targeting a UFC event held this week at the White House for President Trump's birthday, involving explosive-laden drones and snipers. The plot included drones aimed at structures near the event, according to Israeli media citing the FBI.
The FBI has officially confirmed that it foiled a large-scale, multi-stage attack targeting a UFC event held at the White House this week for President Donald Trump's birthday. The bureau's statement, reported by Israeli media citing the FBI, centers on the use of explosive-laden drones aimed at structures near the event, as well as sniper positions. This confirmation, arriving after earlier reporting by The Zioneer and other outlets, represents the first time the FBI has explicitly stated the plot involved both drones and snipers in a single official acknowledgment, lending official weight to the threat picture that first emerged Tuesday afternoon.
The thread of this story began to unfold just after 14:00 Tuesday, when The Zioneer first reported that five suspects had been arrested in connection with a plot involving explosive drones and sniper fire. By 14:07 Jerusalem, multiple versions of the bulletin had been published, each adding layers: the plot was timed for the UFC event on the South Lawn, included a second-wave assault on the gates, and involved at least 23 individuals in an encrypted chat group, according to reports citing the FBI. At 15:14, The Zioneer reported that the FBI had identified at least 23 additional individuals in encrypted chats as part of the plan, which included using drones to trigger panic and funnel crowds toward sniper positions. The new confirmation from the FBI now specifically mentions structures near the event being targeted by the explosive drones, adding a detail not previously highlighted in the FBI's own statements.
The incident fits within a broader pattern of publicized threats to high-security events in Washington. As The Zioneer reported on June 16, the FBI disclosed details of a separate foiled plot targeting AIPAC-related targets, which also involved a Signal group chat with 23 participants and resulted in five arrests.
The investigation is ongoing. The FBI has not released the identity of the suspects, the precise timeline of the plot's disruption, or the specific nature of the sniper positions and the explosive drone details mentioned in its confirmation.
10 developments
- StrongNew FBI details: Intel received June 10 on foiled AIPAC attack plot; 5 of 23 Signal group members arrested
- DevelopingFBI arrests eight pro-Palestinian suspects over organized threats against US Jews
- DevelopingFBI arrests seven suspects in Michigan harassment campaign tied to Oct. 7
- Developing52 Detained in Riots Outside Supreme Court Deputy President's Home; Terror Attack in Sharon Foiled
Source and signal
- Internal intake