FBI foils UFC event drone plot. Arrest made in Cincinnati, report says – Cincinnati Enquirer

An Ohio man is accused of participating in a plot organized online to attack the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House, according to court documents.
Tycen Proper, 19, is charged in federal court in Columbus with conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S., attempted murder of a federal official and gun crimes, according to a criminal complaint unsealed on June 16.
The FBI and other law enforcement agencies became aware on June 10 of a possible threat involving people outside of the nation’s capital targeting last weekend’s event, FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media.
Patel said multiple suspects are now in custody and the alleged plot was thwarted. Fox News previously reported that one of those arrests was made in Cincinnati; however, court records show Proper’s arrest took place in Knox County.
The complaint states authorities were first alerted to Proper’s activities by his mother, who told police that she was concerned about his recent purchases of firearms and communications with individuals online.
His family said that Proper spent roughly $3,000 of graduation money to buy camping gear, ballistic plates, guns and ammunition. They also said Proper quit his job and planned to leave town the weekend of June 13 to meet with people he’d been chatting with online.
Police searched Proper’s phone and found chats on the encrypted messaging app Signal that laid out detailed plans about an attack in Washington, D.C., with highlighted sniper locations and potential areas for launching drones.
During an interview with investigators at a hospital where he was admitted for homicidal ideation, the complaint states, Proper admitted to planning an attack on the UFC event with others online.
He told authorities the plan included flying drones equipped with explosives to detonate over the UFC arena. After the bombs detonated, the group planned to force the crowd and “high-value targets” to flee to an area where members of the group would be waiting with sniper rifles.
Proper said the attack was designed to “jumpstart” a revolution, the complaint states. The targets included several U.S. senators and representatives.
The man’s mother told authorities that members of the online group expressed ultra-religious, anti-government sentiments and they were using Proper’s religion to manipulate him, the document says. Among their grievances was a belief that people involved with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein shouldn’t govern the country.
“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 said.
The June 14 event on the White House South Lawn was timed to coincide with President Donald Trump‘s 80th birthday and came amid the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration. Trump and family members were in attendance and entered the fighting ring to congratulate the champion as fireworks burst overhead at the end, according to USA TODAY. Other administration officials were also present, including Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
USA TODAY national and breaking news reporter Jeanine Santucci contributed.

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