Group planned to attack White House UFC event using snipers and drones, FBI says

June 17, 2026

The FBI prevented a planned attack on a UFC event held at the White House and arrested five men across four states on conspiracy to commit murder charges. The plot, discovered after one suspect's mother alerted authorities about his firearms purchases, involved using explosive-laden drones to create panic and directing fleeing crowds toward sniper positions, followed by a planned assault on the White House gates. The suspects, who met through a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old," allegedly targeted high-profile attendees including President Trump, VP Vance, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Elon Musk, motivated by grievances about government corruption and other issues.

Who is affected

The five arrested suspects: Tycen C Proper (19, Ohio), Bryan Omar Roa (24, California), Michael Alan Thomas (32, California), Daniel K Eskridge (32, Missouri), and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez (31, Nebraska)
Approximately 4,300 attendees at the invite-only UFC event at the White House
An additional 85,000 people watching nearby
Potential targets named in court documents: President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk, and several elected officials
Proper's mother who reported concerns to authorities

What action is being taken

The FBI is conducting a multi-state operation
All five suspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder
Investigators are reviewing encrypted messages between the alleged conspirators
The suspects are being held across four US states

Why it matters

This case highlights serious domestic security threats against high-level government officials and large public gatherings at one of the nation's most protected locations. The incident demonstrates vulnerabilities in how extremist groups can organize through social media platforms like TikTok to plan violent attacks. It also underscores the importance of family members and community members reporting suspicious behavior to authorities, as the mother's call led to thwarting what prosecutors describe as a sophisticated multi-phase attack involving drones, snipers, and an attempted White House breach that could have resulted in mass casualties at a major presidential event.

What's next

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 29
Each suspect faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of conspiracy to murder
Proper faces three additional charges, including conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison

Read full article from source: BBC