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As you may have heard by now, The White House hosted a night of UFC bouts Sunday as part of Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebration.
But the event almost ended tragically due to a terrorist plot involving an explosive drone.
According to multiple outlets, a 19-year-old Ohio native named Tysen Propper was among several suspects arrested in connection with an alleged plan to attack UFC Freedom 250.
Federal authorities claim the group intended to use drones and sniper teams to target attendees, politicians and other prominent figures.
The FBI says the alleged plan was disrupted before it could be implemented.
In a turn that could have prevented a tragedy, investigators say, Propper’s own mother alerted authorities after becoming concerned about her son’s behavior.
According to the FBI affidavit, Propper’s parents reported that he had recently spent thousands of dollars on tactical equipment, firearms accessories, ammunition and other gear.
His mother also expressed concern that he had joined an extremist anti-government group.
Those concerns prompted an investigation that ultimately led federal agents to uncover what they describe as a multi-state conspiracy involving multiple individuals communicating through TikTok and encrypted messaging apps.
According to court documents, members of the group allegedly discussed attacking a White House UFC event using drones carrying explosive devices.
Federal investigators claim the drones may have been used to create panic and force attendees to flee in a specific direction.
At that time, additional members of the group reportedly planned to open fire on the fleeing crowd and identified “high-value targets”.
Officials say potential targets include prominent politicians, wealthy attendees and other public figures expected to attend the event.
The UFC event was attended by thousands of people and included President Donald Trump, making security concerns especially important.
Propper, a resident of Knox County, Ohio, was arrested on June 10 after investigators obtained information from his family and reviewed communications related to the alleged plot.
According to the FBI, Propper told investigators that he had joined a group that initially communicated through TikTok before moving discussions on the encrypted messaging platform Signal.
Federal agents allege the group shared extremist anti-government beliefs and discussed violent action.
Court filings indicate that Propper faces conspiracy-related charges along with several additional counts related to the alleged conspiracy. He will remain in federal custody while the case proceeds.
While five suspects have already been charged, authorities believe the network may be much larger.
Federal authorities have indicated that at least 23 individuals may be connected to the planning effort, and investigators continue to examine communications and evidence obtained during the operation.
For now, officials are crediting a combination of family intervention and quick law enforcement action for stopping what they describe as a potentially devastating attack before it could be carried out.
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