The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in partnership with local Washington, D.C., law enforcement, thwarted an alleged plot to attack the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 Event.
According to unsealed court documents, nineteen individuals were involved in a chat discussing the planned attack, which included flying explosives-laden drones and shooters to fire at panicked attendees as they fled.
Kash Patel Praises Law Enforcement's Efforts
In a statement on X, FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that agents “became aware of a potential threat” on June 10, 2026.
Patel praised the FBI, its law enforcement partners, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their swift actions in the multi-state operation that led to the arrest of multiple individuals.
“While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team – we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens - particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight,” Patel affirmed.
FBI Arrests Five Individuals From Separate States
Law enforcement officials familiar with the matter confirmed that five individuals were arrested from states including Ohio, Missouri, and California.
Among the five arrested was Tycen Proper, a 19-year-old Ohio man charged with attempted murder and multiple firearm violations after admitting to investigators that he helped plan the attack.
According to FBI task force officer Christopher Betts, Proper’s mother called officers in Ohio expressing concerns about her son’s firearms purchases and online communications with “random” people.
Planned Attackers Wanted To Rebuild The U.S.
“The members of the group stated that they wanted to protect the United States, which they believed was headed in the wrong direction,” the affidavit stated. “Members of the group believed that the United States needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt.”
“Some expressed a desire that people who were involved with Jeffrey Epstein should not govern the country.”
