The FBI has foiled a plot to attack a White House-hosted UFC event using snipers and drones, with the agency publicly crediting intelligence sharing from the United Kingdom for the disruption. The operation, described by officials as sophisticated and multi-layered, targeted a high-profile gathering scheduled to take place on the South Lawn of the White House in the coming weeks.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the scheme involved a coordinated assault: operatives planned to deploy sniper teams to enfilade the venue from elevated positions in nearby structures, while drone-borne explosive devices were intended to detonate above the crowd. The plot is said to have been in an advanced stage, with reconnaissance completed and equipment acquired. No specific date for the event was disclosed, but the UFC, a mixed martial arts promotion, has been the subject of ongoing political and cultural commentary, making its association with the White House particularly contentious.
FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a statement emphasising the collaborative nature of the operation. “This plot was identified and neutralised due to the exceptional cooperation between the FBI and our UK partners. Their intelligence was critical in connecting disparate pieces of information,” Wray said. The statement did not name the UK agency involved, but sources indicate it was MI5, the domestic security service.
The development underscores the enduring strength of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which comprises Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. UK intelligence has historically contributed to disrupting terrorist plots on American soil, including the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot and the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot. This latest success is likely to reinforce calls for continued investment in transatlantic intelligence sharing, especially amid political friction over trade and security burden-sharing.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on specific security measures but stated that the event would proceed as planned with enhanced precautions. “The President has been briefed and is confident in the security posture,” she said. The Secret Service, responsible for White House security, has not publicly altered its threat assessment.
The plot’s use of drones is particularly noteworthy. Drone technology has become a persistent concern for event security, with the Department of Homeland Security spending heavily on counter-drone systems. A simultaneous sniper attack would compound the challenge, requiring multi-pronged defensive responses. Analysts suggest the strategy was designed to overwhelm security perimeters and exploit vulnerabilities in overlapping jurisdictions between federal, state and local agencies.
Legal experts anticipate that those detained will face federal charges, likely including conspiracy to commit terrorism and use of weapons of mass destruction. The Justice Department is expected to unseal indictments within days. The individuals' identities remain unconfirmed, but press reports indicate they are US citizens or legal residents with no known foreign allegiance.
Reaction from Congress has been measured but supportive. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner praised the intelligence partnership, noting that “this is exactly the kind of threat that requires international cooperation.” Some Republican lawmakers have however used the incident to question the administration’s policy on drone regulations, arguing that stricter domestic controls are needed.
For UK intelligence officials, the case serves as a powerful public demonstration of value at a time when the agency faces scrutiny over its budget and independence following Brexit. A source at MI5 described the breakthrough as “business as usual” but acknowledged the operational significance.
The incident has not yet prompted a change in the UK threat level, which remains at “substantial” meaning an attack is likely. As the investigation continues, both governments are expected to review protective measures for upcoming high-profile events on both sides of the Atlantic.
