U.S. authorities announced that they had foiled an attack plot targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event, which took place over the weekend in Washington, specifically in the garden of the White House.

According to information cited by Fox News, five individuals were in custody as of Monday, while investigators have identified a total of 23 people allegedly linked to the plan.

According to the same reports, the left-wing suspects were allegedly planning to use drones equipped with explosives, targeting buildings near the event site. Authorities assess that the goal was to cause a mass evacuation of the area and funnel people toward locations where snipers would be positioned.

Officials involved in the investigation claim there was also a second phase of the plan, which involved an attack on the White House gate following the initial strike.

The FBI was informed of the potential threat on June 10 and, in cooperation with other agencies, gathered the necessary evidence leading to the arrest of a suspect in Cincinnati. During the investigation, conversations were discovered on the messaging app Signal, in which several individuals are said to have discussed operational preparations for the attack.

A review of one suspect’s mobile phone reportedly led to the identification of at least 23 Signal users who, according to authorities, exchanged messages about preparatory steps ahead of the alleged attack.

One suspect is said to have told investigators that the target was “capitalist elites,” “billionaires,” or politicians who had received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

The investigation has expanded to at least 12 FBI field offices across different U.S. states. FBI Director Kash Patel credited the prevention of the attack to rapid coordination between the FBI, the Department of Justice, and law enforcement agencies.

“Thanks to the immediate action of the FBI, partner agencies, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and the alleged attacks were prevented,” Patel said.

The UFC Freedom 250 event was held in the South Lawn of the White House as part of celebrations marking the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump. According to organizers, approximately 4,300 spectators attended, including about 1,200 active members of the U.S. armed forces, while 14 athletes from various countries competed in a specially constructed cage.