The Federal Bureau of Investigation has disrupted a sophisticated plot to assassinate the US president using a sniper and drone attack on the White House, according to senior law enforcement officials. British counter-terrorism experts provided critical intelligence that enabled the FBI to intercept the operation before it could be executed.
The plot, which was in its advanced planning stages, involved a coordinated assault combining a long-range rifle and an unmanned aerial vehicle. Officials said the perpetrators had conducted surveillance on the White House perimeter and identified vulnerabilities in airspace restrictions. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, working with the Secret Service, arrested two suspects in a suburb of Washington, D.C., late on Wednesday.
UK intelligence agencies, including MI5 and GCHQ, shared signals intelligence and communications intercepts that pointed to the conspiracy. The information was relayed through the Five Eyes alliance, a long-standing intelligence-sharing arrangement between the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A source close to the operation described the British contribution as “instrumental” in identifying the suspects before they could acquire weapons.
The suspects, both US citizens in their early 30s, are believed to have been radicalised online. They face federal charges of conspiracy to assassinate the president and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. Court documents unsealed on Thursday revealed that they had purchased components for a drone capable of carrying a small explosive payload and had scouted positions along the National Mall for a sniper shot.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan praised the interagency cooperation, stating that “the swift sharing of intelligence between allies prevented a catastrophic attack on American soil.” The White House has not commented on whether security protocols have been altered, but sources indicate that temporary no-fly zones over the executive mansion have been extended.
The plot marks one of the most serious threats to the White House since the September 11 attacks. It highlights the evolving nature of asymmetric threats and the reliance on foreign intelligence to preempt domestic terrorism. Legal experts expect the suspects to be tried in federal court, with the possibility of a military commission being raised given the targeted official.
The incident has revived debates about drone regulation and the security of low-altitude airspace. Congress is expected to hold hearings on counter-drone technology, following similar measures in Europe where authorities have deployed radio-frequency jammers and net-firing systems.
For now, the immediate crisis appears contained. But the episode underscores the persistent vulnerability of high-value targets to hybrid attack methods, and the indispensable role of intelligence alliances in mitigating such risks.
