FBI says it disrupted alleged plot targeting UFC event at White House

The FBI disrupted an alleged plot targeting Sunday’s UFC cage-fight event at the White House, FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday. Newly unsealed court documents detailed a plan investigators said involved explosive-laden drones and shooters targeting crowds fleeing the event.

Tycen Proper, a 19-year-old Ohio man, has been charged with multiple felony counts in connection with the alleged plot, including conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. and attempted murder of an officer or employee of the country, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.

The complaint was signed June 12, two days before President Donald Trump hosted the UFC showcase on the White House South Lawn as part of his 80th birthday celebration.

A preliminary search of Proper’s iPhone revealed encrypted group chats that “laid out detailed plans to conduct an attack in Washington, D.C. with several unidentified confederates,” according to the complaint.

Investigators said the alleged plan involved flying small drones carrying explosives near the UFC arena, forcing spectators and “high value targets” to evacuate. Members of the group would then shoot at the fleeing crowd, according to court documents.

“According to Proper, this attack was designed to ‘jumpstart’ a revolution in the United States,” an FBI affidavit said.

Patel revealed the alleged plot in a post on X Tuesday morning.

“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,” Patel wrote in the post.

Patel said the FBI, the Justice Department and other law enforcement partners moved quickly in a multistate operation, putting “multiple individuals” in custody and stopping “allegedly planned attacks” before they were carried out.

Investigators said the case began when Proper’s mother contacted law enforcement June 10 out of concern over her son’s conduct, including firearms purchases and online communications with certain individuals, according to the complaint.

When law enforcement went to the family’s home in Ohio, they found thousands of rounds of ammunition, an assault-style rifle and a bullpup rifle that had been purchased June 5 and painted with an American flag, according to court documents. Proper’s family voluntarily turned over the equipment, investigators said.

Proper had allegedly joined a TikTok messaging group called “Vanguard of the Old” in March, according to the complaint. Members of the…