Law enforcement officials said they stopped what they described as “planned attacks” targeting the UFC cage-fighting show held at the White House over the weekend. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that several individuals were taken into custody as part of the operation.
Patel said the FBI was informed about the potential threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts event on the White House’s South Lawn. He credited the “rapid action of the FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice” for the arrests and said that the “planned attacks were stopped cold.”
A law enforcement official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public, stated that five people were arrested in connection with the alleged plot. The individuals came from multiple states, including Ohio, Missouri, and California.
The FBI Director said details about the potential threat would be released after charges were unsealed later Tuesday. No further information about the nature of the alleged attacks was immediately disclosed.
Patel posted a statement on X on Tuesday morning announcing the disruption of “planned attacks” related to the UFC event. His comments emphasized that the FBI’s multi-state operation led to multiple arrests.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agency “worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.” He added that coordination between federal agencies played a role in the response.
The UFC card at the White House was billed as the “UFC Freedom 250: Topuria vs. Gaethje,” and it took place on the South Lawn. The fights occurred as part of an event that President Donald Trump tied to broader celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump attended the UFC event Sunday, where he marked his 80th birthday amid the festivities. The celebration combined competitive fighting with patriotic programming on the White House grounds.
The event’s headliner was Ilia Topuria facing Justin Gaethje in a bout that ended in the fourth round by knockout. Topuria’s record stood at 17-1-0 while Gaethje was listed as 28-5-0 following the fight.
Among other results, Ciryl Gane secured a knockout victory with a record of 14-2-0. Sean O’Malley also earned a knockout win, improving to 20-3-0.
J. Hokit continued his run with a knockout to remain undefeated at 10-0-0. M. Ruffy delivered a knockout to bring his record to 14-2-0 during the event.
B. Nickal won by knockout, moving to 9-1-0. D. Lopes rounded out the card with a knockout victory that brought his record to 28-8-0.
The FBI and the Department of Justice were expected to release additional information following the unsealing of charges related to the alleged plot. As of Tuesday afternoon, authorities had not provided further updates about the arrested individuals or their alleged motives.
According to Patel, the coordinated effort among law enforcement agencies ensured the mixed martial arts event proceeded without incident. The arrests, he indicated, concluded the active portions of the investigation before the weekend’s fights.