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WASHINGTON — Fanatical TikTokkers armed with assault rifles plotted to attack the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House South Lawn Sunday night — after revving each other up over Jeffrey Epstein, billionaires, Israel and a hatred of President Trump, according to court papers and sources who spoke with The Post.

The multi-phase plot called for explosive drones to strike the South Lawn during the event, forcing attendees to flee outside the White House, where a sniper team could pick them off, officials and prosecutors said.

The FBI foiled the zealots’ plans by infiltrating Signal chat groups where they were planning “a coordinated attack” to kill President Trump and other government officials, according to federal criminal complaints and affidavits unsealed Tuesday.


  Tycen Proper, 19, was arrested in connection with the drone attack plot. Franklin County Sheriff's Office Tycen Proper, 19, was arrested in connection with the drone attack plot. Franklin County Sheriff's Office

  The Blue Angels fly over the White House during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn on June 14, 2026, in Washington, DC. @WhiteHouse/X The Blue Angels fly over the White House during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn on June 14, 2026, in Washington, DC. @WhiteHouse/X

At least five suspects were arrested last week, and up to 10 others are wanted in connection with the plot, law enforcement sources said. 

The suspects face up to life in prison for the murder charges and up to five years for conspiring to commit an act of violence at the White House.

The “ultra-religious” guerrillas espoused “anti-government” or anti-Israel views and had initially started plotting in a TikTok group called “Vanguard of the Old” in March 2026 before moving conversations to a private Signal group called “Hunters.”

The quintet was charged in at least four states — California, Ohio, Missouri, and Nebraska — with conspiring to murder members of the government and others after the parent of one alerted local police.

President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, tech billionaire Elon Musk and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were all named as potential targets, in addition to members of Congress and a West Virginia state lawmaker, according to court docs.


  Officers gather outside the UFC 250 Freedom event at the White House on Sunday, June 14, 2026. Joey Sussman/Zuma / SplashNews.com Officers gather outside the UFC 250 Freedom event at the White House on Sunday, June 14, 2026. Joey Sussman/Zuma / SplashNews.com

“As many and as deadly as we can get,” said suspected ringleader Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez in one of the messages 

Another, Tycen Proper, was arrested on June 10 after his mother notified the Danville, Ohio, Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Office of concerns about her son’s recent “firearms purchases and communicating with certain individuals online,” according to an affidavit filed in the Southern District of Ohio.

Those persons “claimed to be ex-military and Christian-based,” the mother later said in a phone interview with an FBI task force officer.


  The multi-phase plot called for explosive drones to strike the South Lawn during the event, forcing attendees to flee outside the White House. Obtained by NY Post The multi-phase plot called for explosive drones to strike the South Lawn during the event, forcing attendees to flee outside the White House. Obtained by NY Post

  Michael Alan Thomas and others allegedly involved in the plot initially connected on a TikTok group called “Vanguard of the Old”. TikTok/Mick Michael Alan Thomas and others allegedly involved in the plot initially connected on a TikTok group called “Vanguard of the Old”. TikTok/Mick

Their “grievances” included “government corruption, the handling of the [Jeffrey] Epstein files, data centers taking up all the water in communities, and other government actions,” as well as “billionaires” and “capitalist elites.”

Proper’s mother had overheard him speaking on the phone and mentioning that he was undergoing physical training for “recon” and “hit and run missions,” which she understood to mean “conducting shootings.”

Her son had been leaning “heavily” into his Christian beliefs, but she expressed that those in the chat groups had been “using religion to manipulate and influence her son,” the affidavit stated.

In one of the private chat groups, the suspects debated targeting Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), as well as West Virginia GOP Reps. Carol Miller, Riley Moore and state delegate Tristan Leavitt.


  President Trump sits with first lady Melania Trump during the “UFC Freedom 250” mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, June 14, 2026. AFP via Getty Images President Trump sits with first lady Melania Trump during the “UFC Freedom 250” mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, June 14, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

“I got a possible target, Marsha Blackburn is senator for Tennessee,” Proper said on May 13 in the chat, responding that she was a target because the Republican had “taken money from the pro-Israel lobby and supports them.”

“It is incredibly chilling that this suspect named me as a potential target along with other lawmakers,” Blackburn posted on X in response to reports of the planned attack.

“I will not let maniacs like this one deter me from celebrating or serving this great nation, and I am grateful to law enforcement for keeping us safe.”


  President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, UFC CEO Dana White, and other guests stand inside the octagon at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, June 15, 2026. REUTERS President Trump, first lady Melania Trump, UFC CEO Dana White, and other guests stand inside the octagon at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, June 15, 2026. REUTERS

  President Trump appears with Dana White at UFC Freedom 250. REUTERS President Trump appears with Dana White at UFC Freedom 250. REUTERS

Leavitt, one of the targeted lawmakers, told The Post in a statement: “I am not intimidated, and I will not be silenced in standing up for the people of West Virginia or our allies, including Israel. I’ve spent my career standing up for people willing to tell hard truths about their government, and I will never apologize or back down from doing the right thing as a lawmaker.”

Proper — who denied he was planning to commit violence to investigators — also sent a May 31 message that stated, “these are the people we’re going to focus on,” followed by images of Justice, Capito, Miller, and Moore.

Each image was lifted from the website TrackAIPAC.com, which opposes the lobbying work of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and records how much money politicians receive from pro-Israel contributors.


  Suspect Tycen Proper reportedly used his graduation money to buy ammunition. Facebook/Danielle Proper Suspect Tycen Proper reportedly used his graduation money to buy ammunition. Facebook/Danielle Proper

When executing a search warrant on the home where Proper lived with his parents, FBI agents and local law enforcement found a “large quantity of boxes of spent ammunition,” “spent cartridge casings,” and “other tactical clothing.”

Family members also drew the authorities’ attention to comments Proper had made online expressing sympathy for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, as well as other anti-semitic statements.


  Suspect Tycen Proper seen in an undated photo from Facebook. Facebook/Danielle Proper Suspect Tycen Proper seen in an undated photo from Facebook. Facebook/Danielle Proper

Proper recently spent $3,000 of his high school “graduation money” on “camping gear, food, ballistic plates, a new shotgun, a rifle, ‘lots’ of ammunition, extra magazines, and plate carriers,” his father also told authorities.

Proper confessed to investigators in a June 11 interview that he had been planning the “coordinated” attack with others to “jumpstart” a revolution in the US, because they believed the country “was headed in the wrong direction” and “needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt.”

He was later admitted to a local hospital for “homicidal ideations,” his affidavit revealed.


  Bryan Omar Roa is pictured conducting firearms training and is accused of conspiring with an online group to carry out the attack. Obtained by NY Post Bryan Omar Roa is pictured conducting firearms training and is accused of conspiring with an online group to carry out the attack. Obtained by NY Post

Proper faces charges of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, attempted murder of an officer or employee of the United States, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and receipt or transfer of a firearm used to commit a felony.

Unsealed affidavits also show Michael Alan Thomas and Bryan Oma Roa were both arrested in Southern California in connection with the scheme and were charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

FBI agents seized rifles, handguns and stockpiles of ammunition from their residences — with Roa having discussed “marksmen training” with Thomas and readying for guerrilla-style warfare.


  Fireworks explode above the White House during the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn, in Washington, Monday, June 15, 2026. AP Photo/Rod Lamkey Fireworks explode above the White House during the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn, in Washington, Monday, June 15, 2026. AP Photo/Rod Lamkey

Alvarez was taken into custody in Nebraska and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit an offense against the US, while Daniel Eskridge was arrested in Missouri and charged with conspiracy to commit murder on the White House grounds, per other affidavits.

Eskridge had implored the group to target “someone that both Democrats and Republicans would unite over” if that official was murdered.

Alvarez, who was known as “Shepherd” in the secret chat groups, was identified as the ringleader.


  Marshals provide security at the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse ahead of the UFC Freedom 250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, 2026. Getty Images Marshals provide security at the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse ahead of the UFC Freedom 250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, 2026. Getty Images

The suspects were plotting to gather in Fredericksburg, Va., and from there travel to DC to launch the explosive drone attack — and then attempt to storm the gates of the executive mansion, according to sources.

Sources said it is not yet clear how prepared the plotters were to actually carry out the attack, noting that one suspect was allegedly involved in the plans while in a mental health facility.

Some suspects from the 23-member group subscribed to the far-right “accelerationist” ideology — a nihilist belief also espoused by the San Diego mosque shooters last month, sources said.

More arrests are possible, and authorities are preparing additional search warrants.

“There are still suspects at large and we’re going to work it until everyone’s been identified,” said USSS Assistant Director Matt Quinn at a press conference Tuesday.

“I’m not going to comment on how many involved because like I said, it still is an active investigation,” he added. “I will tell you that we’ve seen a significant increase in threat cases. We’re up 40% this year in threat cases.”

Proper told investigators he was going to pick up another member of the attack group in West Virginia before heading to DC.

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