FBI foiled alleged plot targeting Trump's UFC event, Patel says

Driving the news: Federal officials and law enforcement partners learned of a potential threat from people outside the Washington, D.C., area on June 10, Patel said on X.

• He said that "thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold."

Catch up quick: The president, along with members of his administration and family, attended the rowdy spectacle on White House grounds Sunday that coincided with his 80th birthday.

• Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement that his agency worked closely with the FBI throughout the investigation.

Zoom in: Five people are in custody, according to Fox News, which was first to report on the alleged plot.

• Officials told the outlet the plan involved using explosive-laden drones to force an evacuation and steer people toward snipers.
• Fox's report, which Patel shared on X, also said that a review of one suspect's phone identified at least 23 Signal users discussing the operation.

• Reached for comment, the FBI did not share additional details beyond Patel's post.

Between the lines: The UFC Freedom 250 event is one of several mass gatherings planned around the nation's 250th anniversary, including a July 4th celebration that the president has pitched as "the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all."

• D.C. security is ramping up accordingly, Axios D.C.'s Cuneyt Dil reported. Secret Service is taking the lead on the Fourth of July, designating it a National Special Security Event, a label usually reserved for occasions like a presidential inauguration.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.