Federal officials have arrested multiple people who they claim discussed plots to attack the UFC fight night event at the White House, including by using drones and a gunman, a federal law enforcement official told CNN.

Plot Details

A team including the Secret Service and FBI uncovered messages discussing the plot between multiple individuals, according to the official. The group discussed in messages attaching deadly payloads to drones in order to cause mass panic as well as using a gunman to shoot at the crowds.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrests in a post on X, adding that the effort to stop the “allegedly planned attacks” was a “multi-state operation” and involved actors from outside the Washington, DC, area.

Charges are expected to be unsealed, another person familiar with the situation told CNN. Arrests were made across four federal districts.

The event, which was held in an arena built on the White House South Lawn, also featured a festival for fans on the Ellipse. The Secret Service handled all security on the White House grounds while Park Police was the “point” on the Ellipse.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.