The FBI said on Tuesday (June 16) it thwarted a planned attack on the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts event on the White House lawn on the weekend, taking five people into custody, according to court documents.

The plot involved using explosive-laden drones to strike the north side of the White House with the aim of funneling attendees toward an exit where snipers planned to open fire on fleeing politicians and others, the FBI alleged in court papers.

U.S. President Donald Trump attended the event, which was staged without incident on his 80th birthday, along with several senior Republican lawmakers, donors and administration officials to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

The five people charged appeared to subscribe to anti-government conspiracy theories and were motivated in part by anger at the handling of investigative files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to court documents.

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VIDEO SHOWS: SCREENSHOTS OF MESSAGES BY SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN ALLEGED PLAN TO ATTACK ATTENDEES AT CAGE-FIGHT EVENT/ INSTAGRAM POSTS OF SUSPECTS, PHOTOS OF SUSPECTS GEAR, AND PHOTOS SENT BY SUSPECTS TO GROUP CHAT/

SHOWS: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS (RELEASED ON JUNE 16, 2026)(U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HANDOUT - Access all)(MUTE)

1. VARIOUS SCREENSHOTS OF MESSAGES AND MAPS ON SUSPECT TYCEN PROPER’S PHONE, FROM THE COMPLAINT FILED IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

2. A PHOTO OF PROPER’S GUN, FROM THE COMPLAINT FILED IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

3. SUSPECT BRYAN ROA’S INSTAGRAM POST OF HIM SHOOTING GUNS, FROM THE COMPLAINT FILED IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

4. PHOTO OF TACTICAL EQUIPMENT FROM SUSPECT DANIEL ESKRIDGE, FROM THE AFFIDAVIT FILED IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

5. TACTICAL GEAR RECOVERED BY THE FBI FROM A JUNE 13 SEARCH OF ESKRIDGE’S RESIDENCE, FROM THE AFFIDAVIT FILED IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

6. SCREENSHOT OF A CHURCH, SENT BY SUSPECT ABRAHAM ALVAREZ, “SHEPHERD,” TO SIGNAL CHAT GROUP, FROM THE COMPLAINT FILED IN THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA