FBI Director Says Terror Plot Targeting UFC Freedom 250 Was Thwarted Over the Weekend

FBI Director Kash Patel claims that the FBI thwarted a terror plot at last weekend’s UFC 250 event at the White House in Washington, D.C. Fox News Digital first reported the story, with Todd Piro stating that the FBI disrupted the terror plot, identifying nearly two dozen potential perpetrators, five of whom were taken into custody, and preventing any harm.

Fox News reports that authorities allege that the plan involved using explosive-laden drones to strike buildings near the event to trigger an evacuation into a pre-positioned sniper attack.

Fox News’ Todd Piro reports on an alleged explosive-drone plot targeting the White House UFC Freedom 250 event. The FBI disrupted the plot, identifying nearly two dozen potential plotters and taking five into custody, preventing any harm. In an announcement on his X account, FBI Director Kash Patel stated that an alleged terror plot involving explosive-laden drones to hit buildings near the event was thwarted. Patel stated that the FBI and law enforcement partners became aware of the potential threat and took “rapid action,” taking multiple individuals into custody and stopping the allegedly planned attacks.

Patel wrote, “On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region – and 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.”

Patel continued in his statement, “While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team – we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens – particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight.” He added, “That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted.”

Reuters reports that United States President Donald Trump, at the Group of Seven summit in Evian, France, said that he had not yet heard about the planned attack. Vice President JD Vance appeared in a Fox News interview this morning, where he discussed the topic.

Vance told Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends about the plot, Twenty-three people do not get to the point ​where they’re going to commit a mass terror ​incident ⁠in Washington, D.C. without some serious funding, without some serious coordination.” He added, “That’s not a few ⁠guys ​doing crazy stuff, that is a ​coordinated, planned terrorist plot.”

As noted, veteran WWE Superstar and reigning World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns was in attendance at the UFC show in our nation’s capital. Declan McMahon, the son of former WWE executive Shane McMahon, also shared a reel from the event, showing that his father Shane and WWE President Nick Khan were also in attendance.

WWE is the sister company of UFC, with both promotions under the TKO banner. Several WWE Superstars also did meet-and-greets at the fan fest in the lead-up to the UFC card. You can view Director Patel’s comments on the alleged terror plot targeting UFC Freedom 250 below:

On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region – and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of… pic.twitter.com/PbWkIk1Lr5

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 16, 2026