FBI thwarted plot targeting White House UFC event, Patel says

US media say the plan would have involved a drone attack. The FBI boss says multiple suspects are in custody. FBI thwarted plot targeting White House UFC event, Patel says Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. The event was held on Sunday, as US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday US President Donald Trump seen through metal wire fencing. He is wearing a blue suit and a white baseball cap that says "USA". In the background is a crowd of people and the White House The FBI thwarted a plot targeting Sunday's UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House, and has taken multiple suspects into custody, according to the agency's head, Kash Patel. "Allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold," Patel said in a social media post on Tuesday about the "multi-state operation". Part of the plan involved striking nearby buildings with explosive-laden drones, two sources told the BBC's US news partner CBS News. A suspect was taken into custody in Cincinnati last week, CBS also reported, and investigators obtained access to Signal chats in which alleged plotters discussed the plan. The BBC has requested further comment from the FBI. By using the drones, the plotters aimed to spark panic and draw the fleeing crowd toward a sniper team, the sources also told CBS. A "second wave" of attackers would have then allegedly attempted to storm the White House gate. Patel's statement on X did not confirm those details - though he did post a link to a report by Fox News that included them. Fox also reported that five people were in custody. "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 added in his post. The Secret Service worked "closely with the FBI throughout this investigation," and their "formal comments regarding the specifics of this case will be made available in court filings", Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement. On Sunday, as part of the celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary, the White House hosted a series of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matches on the South Lawn. An estimated 4,300 people were present for the invite-only event on the South Lawn - and another 85,000 were able to watch at a nearby fan zone as 14 fighters competed in back-to-back fights. The event coincided with Trump's 80th birthday. Some members of his administration were in attendance, as were some celebrities. The thwarted attack comes some two months after a shooting at the White House Correspondents dinner, where Trump was in attendance and one month after a man was killed by Secret Service agents after opening fire at White House checkpoint. US President Donald Trump, US First Lady Melania Trump, UFC CEO Dana White and other guests stand inside the Octagon at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House Trump and thousands of others watch UFC fight on White House lawn Justin Gaethje and Donald Trump at UFC Freedom 250 US star Gaethje wins at Trump's UFC White House show Some students were protesting against the company's controversial work with the US government on artificial intelligence. Fans in the US, Canada and Mexico are spending big on tickets, transport and accommodation - is it worth it? The fires in Riverside County cover over 2,000 acres, say authorities.