FBI Foils White House UFC Attack Plot, Arrests Five Suspects Over Alleged Sniper And Drone Scheme
FBI arrested five suspects accused of plotting a sniper and drone attack targeting a White House UFC event.
FBI arrested five suspects accused of plotting a sniper and drone attack targeting a White House UFC event.
The FBI has foiled an alleged plot to attack Sunday’s UFC event at the White House, leading to the arrest of five men across four US states, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
Federal prosecutors allege the group planned a coordinated assault involving explosive-laden drones, sniper teams and a subsequent attempt to breach the White House grounds during the high-profile event.
Authorities said the investigation culminated in a multi-state operation that resulted in the arrests of Tycen C Proper, 19, in Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, and Michael Alan Thomas, 32, in California; Daniel K Eskridge, 32, in Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, in Nebraska.
All five suspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
“Allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media on Tuesday regarding the operation.
According to court documents, the group allegedly intended to use drones carrying explosives to strike nearby buildings and create panic among attendees. Prosecutors said the resulting chaos was designed to funnel crowds towards areas covered by sniper teams targeting what the suspects described as “high value targets”.
Investigators further alleged that a “second wave” of attackers was expected to storm the White House gate following the initial assault.
The invite-only UFC event on the White House South Lawn attracted approximately 4,300 attendees, while an estimated 85,000 spectators watched from nearby locations during the series of fights held on Sunday.
Court filings linked to Alvarez indicate that the group allegedly discussed targeting several prominent figures, including US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Elon Musk, as well as a number of elected officials. Prosecutors noted that not all of the individuals identified as potential targets attended the event.
The investigation began after Proper’s mother contacted local authorities on June 10, expressing concerns over her son’s firearms purchases and his online communications with a group that allegedly claimed to consist of former military personnel and individuals with Christian-based beliefs.
According to prosecutors, members of the group allegedly hoped to “jumpstart” a revolution by attacking politicians and wealthy individuals attending the event. Court documents state that they discussed grievances relating to “government corruption, the handling of the Epstein files, data centers taking up all the water in communities, and other government actions.”
An FBI filing stated that group members wanted “to protect the United States, which they believed was headed in the wrong direction”.
“Members of the group believed that the United States needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt,” the document said.
During an FBI interview on June 11, Proper allegedly admitted participating in discussions about the planned attack. Investigators said the group began communicating around March through a TikTok group known as “Vanguard of the Old”, which is also referred to in court documents as “Vanguard of the Old Republic”.
Authorities said recruitment largely occurred through TikTok before selected members moved to encrypted discussions on Signal. Prosecutors stated that the main group chat included approximately 19 members, while smaller groups were organised according to members’ roles and locations.
Court documents allege that Thomas proposed a four-tier operational structure, with senior members potentially carrying out illegal acts and going into hiding, while lower tiers consisted of supporters, funders and influencers.
The filings also reveal discussions about assassinating several US lawmakers and prominent business executives. Prosecutors said some politicians were allegedly selected based on the group’s belief that they had accepted funding from pro-Israel lobbying organisations.
Authorities allege Alvarez played a leading role in organising the planned attack and was responsible for drone-related operations.
Investigators also recovered maps of Washington highlighting alleged sniper positions, drone launch sites and potential targets, including power grid infrastructure. Court filings include images showing tactical equipment, weapons and operational maps shared among members.
“Proper said that although he was not going to the protest in order to shoot people, several other members of the group were intent on violence,” the complaint against him said.
At a separate briefing on Tuesday, Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn described the alleged plot as a “serious threat” but declined to provide further details because of the ongoing investigation.
“I’ll tell you a phrase I learned early in my career in the New York field office and that’s ‘Don’t choke on your own smoke.'”
“In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation and the security plan, we chose not to leak it,” he added.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France on Tuesday, President Trump said: “I haven’t heard about it.”
If convicted, each suspect faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 (£186,122) for conspiracy to commit murder. Proper also faces three additional charges, including conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 29.
The UFC event formed part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday. It came amid heightened concerns over political violence following a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner two months earlier and a separate incident last month in which Secret Service agents fatally shot a man who opened fire at a White House security checkpoint.
Experts say political violence remains a growing concern in the US. Erica Frantz, a political science professor at Michigan State University, told the BBC that such incidents often occur in cycles.
“There will always be disgruntled members of society who advocate conspiracy theories and extremist views that together don’t make much sense,” Frantz said. “I am less concerned with the specific motivation, and more concerned with the societal forces pushing people to the fringe.”
According to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), targeted violence in the US increased by more than 30 per cent between 2024 and 2025.
