US authorities have announced the disruption of a significant plot targeting a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held at the White House last Sunday. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on social media that a 'multi-state operation' led to the arrest of five men, who are now facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder.
According to the US Justice Department, the alleged plan was elaborate, involving the use of explosive-laden drones to strike nearby buildings and create panic, drawing crowds towards sniper teams. A 'second wave' of attackers was then reportedly intended to storm the White House gate. Prosecutors stated that the suspects had expressed 'ultra-religious and antigovernment sentiments' in encrypted messages reviewed by investigators.
The five individuals arrested have been identified as Tycen Proper, from Ohio; Bryan Roa and Michael Thomas, both from California; Daniel Eskridge, from Missouri; and Abraham Alvarez, from Nebraska. Proper, aged 19, was the first to be apprehended last week. His mother reportedly contacted local authorities on 10th June, days before the event, expressing concerns about his substantial firearms purchases and his online interactions with a group claiming to be former military members with Christian-based ideologies.
During an FBI interview on 11th June, Proper allegedly admitted to his involvement in planning the attack, stating the group began communicating in March via a TikTok group named 'Vanguard of the Old Republic'. Following a 'vetting' process, members moved to the encrypted messaging app Signal for more detailed discussions. Court documents indicate that Alvarez was responsible for planning, organising, and directing the planned UFC attack, specifically working on drone aspects of the plot.
The group's grievances reportedly included 'government corruption, the handling of the Epstein files, data centres taking up all the water in communities, and other government actions.' They allegedly discussed assassinating 'high-value targets', identified as wealthy individuals and politicians attending the event. Maps of Washington DC were also distributed, highlighting potential sniper locations, drone launch points, and power grids as targets.
The invite-only UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House saw approximately 4,300 attendees, with an additional 85,000 people able to watch nearby. The swift action by law enforcement agencies is credited with preventing what could have been a devastating incident.
Source: US Justice Department, FBI