Fireworks explode over the White House during the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn in Washington
The FBI on Tuesday uncovered an alleged plot to target the UFC America 250 event held at the White House over the weekend, saying multiple suspects had been taken into custody following a multi-state operation.FBI Director Kash Patel said authorities became aware of the potential threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts event in Washington, D.C. He said the threat includes individuals outside the National Capital Region. He said the investigation was still ongoing and praised federal and local law enforcement agencies for preventing what he described as planned attacks before the event attended by President Donald Trump.“On June 10, the FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals from outside the National Capital Region — and thanks to the swift action of the FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals have now been taken into custody and the alleged planned attacks have been stopped,” he said.
“While the result represented the best investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team – we are designed to detect, respond to and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens – especially during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight.
And that’s exactly what we did here. He added: “I would like to thank our wonderful agents and partners. This work is still ongoing and we will continue to update the public on the latest developments as permitted.”According to law enforcement officials cited by the Associated Press, five people were arrested in states including Ohio, Missouri and California. The nature of the alleged conspiracy was not immediately revealed, and additional details are expected after the accusations are revealed.US Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agency worked closely with law enforcement partners to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.