Attack Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event Foiled by FBI, Sniper Massacre Planned

Central Message

(CNA, Washington, 16th -综合 foreign news) Kash Patel, Director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today that law enforcement successfully prevented a conspiracy to attack the White House during a scheduled weekend mixed martial arts event. President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials were set to attend the event.

According to Agence France-Presse, Patel posted on social media platform X: "Thanks to swift cross-state actions by the FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice, multiple individuals involved have now been detained, and the so-called planned attack has been completely dismantled."

He shared a Fox News headline reading "Officials: FBI Thwarts Suspected Explosives-Laden Drone Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event," and in another post, included a link to the report.

Citing anonymous officials, Fox News reported that investigators have identified 23 members of a "potential conspiracy network," with five already in custody.

The plan involved using drones to attack buildings near the White House during the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match, triggering a large-scale evacuation that would "direct crowds toward pre-deployed sniper teams." The report also mentioned a "second wave" plan involving a forced breach of the White House gates.

When asked for further details about Patel's post, the FBI responded to AFP: "We have no further information to provide at this time."

On the 14th, Trump attended the event alongside thousands of fight fans, watching the competition on a temporary arena called "The Claw" erected on the South Lawn of the White House. The event, named "UFC Freedom 250," kicked off celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence and was held on Trump's 80th birthday.

Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts in recent years, the most recent occurring in April, when a gunman attempted to breach the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. (Translation: Ho Hung-Ju) 1150616