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Reporting from Fox News Digital first brought key details of the alleged plot to light.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation was halted before it could progress further, stating it was “stopped cold” on June 10 after federal investigators executed a search warrant in Cincinnati. That action led to the first arrest in what would become a multi-jurisdictional case.
A federal arrest affidavit later identified California resident Michael Alan Thomas as one of the alleged organizers behind the plot. According to investigators, Thomas made a series of disturbing ideological claims during questioning, including assertions that he believed the U.S. government is controlled by elites involved in child sacrifice and cannibalism conspiracies, and that such figures are connected to Jeffrey Epstein and protected by President Donald Trump.
Authorities say the investigation expanded rapidly after the initial arrest. Some suspects allegedly traveled to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or June 13 to conduct reconnaissance and prepare logistical elements tied to the planned operation.
As investigators dug deeper, they reportedly uncovered extensive digital coordination. A suspect’s iPhone contained evidence of at least 23 users communicating through the encrypted messaging platform Signal, where participants allegedly discussed operational parameters of what authorities believe could have been a large-scale attack in the nation’s capital.
Screenshots of the chats allegedly showed maps of the UFC event layout being shared among participants, along with conversations about possible sniper placements and crowd movement. Law enforcement also recovered firearms and ammunition during the course of the investigation, according to the affidavit.
Prosecutors further allege that one suspect described the intent behind the plot as targeting “capitalist elites,” “billionaires,” and political figures associated with funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. In a reported statement included in the investigation, a suspect said the goal was to go after “capitalist elites,” “billionaires” and politicians who received money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, officials said.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News correspondent David Spunt that all five individuals in custody are American citizens. At this stage, investigators do not believe there is any foreign involvement connected to the alleged plot.
Officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation emphasized that the case reflects sustained surveillance and rapid response capabilities designed to identify threats before they reach execution. Patel later highlighted the coordinated effort, writing on X: “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,” adding that the operation demonstrated routine readiness against complex threats.
The UFC Freedom 250 event itself was held amid heightened national attention, coinciding with President Trump’s 80th birthday. Roughly 4,300 people attended in person, including 1,200 active-duty service members. An additional estimated 80,000 to 85,000 spectators gathered at a ticketed watch party on the Ellipse just south of the White House, while thousands more assembled along the National Mall to view the fight card broadcast on large outdoor screens.
Authorities continue to review digital evidence, weapons recoveries, and travel records as the case moves forward, with officials describing the investigation as ongoing and potentially expanding.
