Multiple arrests as FBI disrupts ‘planned attacks’ targeting White House UFC show, director says

Multiple arrests as FBI disrupts ‘planned attacks’ targeting White House UFC show, director says 1 of 5 | Security at the White House looks through a pair of binoculars during the UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert, File) 2 of 5 | Diego Lopes celebrates during a featherweight bout against Steve Garcia during UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) 3 of 5 | FBI director Kash Patel watches with Alexis Wilkins at UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 4 of 5 | President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, UFC President and CEO Dana White and other guests pose inside the octagon after UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via AP) 5 of 5 | President Donald Trump attends UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 1 of 5 | Security at the White House looks through a pair of binoculars during the UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert, File) 1 of 5 Security at the White House looks through a pair of binoculars during the UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 5 | Diego Lopes celebrates during a featherweight bout against Steve Garcia during UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) 2 of 5 Diego Lopes celebrates during a featherweight bout against Steve Garcia during UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 5 | FBI director Kash Patel watches with Alexis Wilkins at UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 3 of 5 FBI director Kash Patel watches with Alexis Wilkins at UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 5 | President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, UFC President and CEO Dana White and other guests pose inside the octagon after UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via AP) 4 of 5 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, UFC President and CEO Dana White and other guests pose inside the octagon after UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 5 | President Donald Trump attends UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 5 of 5 President Donald Trump attends UFC-freedom-250" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="61359" data-entity-type="event">UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Washington (AP) — Law enforcement officials disrupted “planned attacks” meant to target the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House this past weekend for President Donald Trump’s birthday, and multiple people were in custody, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday.The nature of the potential threat was not immediately disclosed, with additional details expected to be released once charges are unsealed later Tuesday.Five people were arrested from states including Ohio, Missouri and California, said a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss information that was not yet public.The FBI learned about the possible threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts extravaganza on the White House’s South Lawn, “and thanks to the rapid action of the FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said in a post on X on Tuesday morning. The Secret Service “worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” Director Sean Curran said in a separate statement. 3 MIN READ 4 MIN READ 6 MIN READ Trump, who celebrated his 80th birthday at the UFC event on Sunday, sought to tie the fights to larger celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Évian-les-Bains, France, where he was attending the Group of Seven summit, Trump said he had not been briefed on the thwarted plot.___Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Évian-les-Bains, France, contributed to this report.