FBI foiled alleged plot targeting Trump's UFC event, Patel says (axios.com)

Multiple people are in custody after the FBI disrupted an alleged threat against President Trump's White House UFC event , FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday. The big picture: There have been several attempts on Trump's life, including a recent shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, as law enforcement reckons with a period of elevated political violence . 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.