politics
Eighth Person Charged in Foiled Drone Plot Targeting White House UFC Event
Federal authorities charged an eighth person in a conspiracy to attack the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House using explosive drones and shooters. The plot was disrupted after a tip from one suspect's mother. Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers linked rising political violence to Democratic rhetoric.
brobible.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
An eighth person was charged in connection with a thwarted plot targeting the Freedom 250 Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House, Fox News reported. All eight suspects are accused of conspiring to use explosive-laden drones to trigger a mass evacuation of the June 14 event before directing fleeing crowds toward pre-positioned shooters, with a second wave planned to target the White House gate, according to FBI officials.
The suspects allegedly met around March through a TikTok community before moving to encrypted Signal chats and later used a Telegram chat to obtain multiple drones capable of carrying heavy explosive payloads, the Washington state complaint stated.
Federal investigators said the suspects acquired firearms, ammunition, ballistic gear and other tactical equipment in preparation for the attack. Prosecutors said the plotters later agreed to commit murder on White House grounds and in the surrounding area during the event. The alleged plot was foiled with the help of a tip from the mother of one of the suspects.
The five suspects charged include Daniel K. Eskridge, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, Bryan Omar Roa, Michael Alan Thomas and Tycen C. Proper. Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers stated that Democratic rhetoric is absolutely contributing to the rise in political violence.
Rogers said Democrats are encouraging people to move beyond normal political discourse and into violent attacks. Rogers, a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee and former FBI special agent, is running in Michigan's Republican primary on Aug. 4 for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen.
