Concerned mother’s tip led FBI to thwart plot targeting UFC event at the White House

WASHINGTON, DC: A concerned mother’s call to the federal officers may have been the key that helped unravel an alleged plot targeting Donald Trump's much-hyped Fighting Championship mixed martial arts event on the White House lawn on the weekend.

The investigators announced on Monday, June 15, that they have taken 5 suspects in custody and have identified 23 people as part of a potential network of plotters.

According to the court document, the plan, which was discussed online, involved using explosive-laden drones to hit buildings near the event, force a mass evacuation, and steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team.

In a statement, FBI Director Kash Patel praised the "rapid action" of the FBI and its partners, which involved a "multi-state operation."

Tycen Proper’s mother alerted officials after noticing his unusual behavior

Following the arrests, federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal complaint on Tuesday charging 19-year-old Tycen Proper, of Ohio, with conspiring against the United States, attempted murder of an officer of the US, and firearms charges in connection with the alleged weekend plot.

Proper first came under the radar when his mother contacted authorities after noticing his unusual behavior. Court documents state that Proper's mother grew alarmed after seeing her son study locations near Washington, DC, and receive maps and photographs via text messages and Discord.

When she confronted him, Proper allegedly said the group planned to conduct "recon" and "hit and run missions." She later told investigators she interpreted that as planning shootings.

The mother first contacted authorities on June 10. When the investigator conducted a home visit, Proper’s father told officers his son had recently met people online and had been planning "recons" with them.

He also informed officers about his son’s plan to leave the state on the night of June 13.  Proper's father reportedly alerted investigators that his son used much of his graduation money, around $3,000, to buy firearms, body armor, ammunition, and tactical gear.

At their residence, they found thousands of rounds of ammunition, an assault-style rifle, and a bullpup rifle and painted with an American flag, according to court documents.

Family members later voluntarily turned over the equipment to law enforcement, according to the complaint.

Proper’s mother claims an online Christian-based group was influencing her son

Proper's mother told investigators that her son had recently started communicating with an online group whose members claimed to be former military personnel and identified themselves as Christian-based.

She said the group appeared to be influencing him and that she noticed him becoming increasingly focused on physical training and tactical preparation.

Investigators also stated that the five suspects, including Proper, aligned with “accelerationist” ideology, a fringe extremist ideology that seeks to destabilize society and accelerate the collapse of governments and social systems.

After local authorities alerted the FBI, investigators examined Proper's phone and allegedly uncovered Signal messages detailing plans for an attack during the June 14 UFC event at the White House, including discussions about explosive-laden drones and gunmen stationed along evacuation routes.

Prosecutors also allege Proper later admitted participating in planning discussions.