The FBI thwarted an explosive drone attack against Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn and have already taken five suspects into custody, it was revealed Tuesday.
The multi-phase terror attack allegedly involved using explosive-laden drone aircraft to strike buildings in the vicinity of the event, sparking mass panic and driving the fleeing crowd toward a sniper team poised to pick them off, officials told Fox News Digital.
A “second wave” of attackers then allegedly planned to storm the White House gate, officials said.
The bureau learned of the plot on June 10 and executed a search warrant in Cincinnati, where the first arrest was made.
Some of the alleged suspects traveled to Fredericksburg, Virginia on June 12 or 13 to make preparations for the attack.
Upon investigating a suspect’s iPhone, authorities found at least 23 users of encrypted chat app Signal involved in discussing parameters of what could have been a devastating terror attack in the heart of the nation’s capital.
A suspect told investigators the goal of the attack was to target “capitalist elites,” “billionaires” and politicians who received money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to the outlet.
“Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The high-profile combat sports extravaganza coincided with President Trump’s 80th birthday, and was attended by around 4,300 people, including 1,200 active-duty service members.