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Plot to assassinate Trump and other high-ranking figures? FBI prevents attack on UFC event at White House

2026-06-17 08:22:22Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The FBI has foiled a plot to attack the UFC event at the White House on Sunday and arrested five people, the US Justice Department said. According to prosecutors, the plan called for striking nearby buildings with drones loaded with explosives and opening fire on “high-value targets.”

One of the suspects was arrested last week in Ohio, where investigators discovered encrypted messages that included other suspects who, according to court documents, had expressed ultra-religious and anti-government views.

"The planned attacks were stopped in time," FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on social media, referring to the operation conducted in several states.

The arrestees have been identified as Tycen C. Proper, 19, Bryan Omar Roa, 24, Michael Alan Thomas, 32, Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31. They were arrested in four different states and have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

According to the investigation, the group intended to cause panic with explosive drones, forcing the crowd to flee towards the area where a sniper team would operate. Then, a "second wave" of attackers would attempt to enter the White House premises.

The UFC event, organized on the South Lawn of the White House, was attended by about 4,300 people by invitation, while about 85,000 others followed from surrounding areas.

According to court documents, the group had discussed US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk and several other elected officials as possible targets.

The plot was uncovered after a phone call from Proper's mother on June 10, who expressed concern about her son's numerous gun purchases and communications he had with an online group that claimed to be made up of former military personnel and people of Christian beliefs.

According to prosecutors, the group aimed to start a "revolution" by killing influential people they considered responsible for government corruption, the handling of the Epstein files, the construction of data centers and other issues they saw as problematic.

The group's members claimed to want to "protect the United States," which they said was heading in the wrong direction. An FBI document states that they believed the country needed to be "destroyed in order to be rebuilt."

During an interview with the FBI on June 11, Proper admitted to participating in planning the attack and stated that the group had begun communications in March through a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old," also known in some documents as "Vanguard of the Old Republic."

It is not known if the group is affiliated with any larger organization, but Proper said most members were recruited through TikTok. Those who passed the verification process were then transferred to the encrypted app Signal.

According to prosecutors, the main group consisted of about 19 people, while smaller groups existed according to the roles and locations of the members.

Investigations show that Michael Thomas envisioned a four-tier structure, where the core group would undertake illegal actions and hide, while the final tier would consist of financiers, influencers, and other supporters.

The documents also describe conversations in which members discussed assassinating American lawmakers and prominent business leaders. Some of the targets were selected because of the group's belief that they received financial support from pro-Israel lobbies.

The Justice Department says Alvarez was responsible for planning and organizing the attack on the UFC event and was instrumental in the use of drones. According to court documents, the suspects distributed maps of Washington, D.C., marking sniper positions, drone launch sites and power grids that could be targeted.

Proper said he himself had no intention of shooting people during the protest, but acknowledged that some other members of the group were determined to use violence. In a briefing on Tuesday, Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn called the case a “serious threat” but did not provide further details because of the ongoing investigation. Asked during the G7 summit in France, President Trump said he had not heard of the plot.

If convicted, all five face life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Proper faces three additional charges, including conspiracy to commit acts of violence on the White House grounds. A preliminary hearing is set for June 29.

The UFC event took place on Sunday at the outdoor arena "The Claw" as part of activities for the 250th anniversary of the United States. It also coincided with the 80th anniversary of Donald Trump's birth.

Experts warn that political violence in the U.S. is on the rise. According to Erica Frantz, a political science professor at Michigan State University, such acts tend to be cyclical, with one episode of violence often followed by another.

According to data from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism (START), cases of targeted violence in the US increased by more than 30% from 2024 to 2025.


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