A shocking plot to attack the UFC cage-fighting show at the White House was thwarted after a tip-off from a concerned mother, it has been revealed.

The alleged plotters had planned to use drones to drop explosives at the site. When the panicked crowd attempted to flee, snipers would be ready to shoot at them.

US law enforcement officials disrupted the alleged attack, planned for the past weekend’s event celebrating the USA’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

On Wednesday (AEST), the US Justice Department announced charges against five men for an alleged plot “to kill government officials and others” at the event.

“The FBI launched an investigation into the plot and identified a group of conspirators who procured weapons and made plans to carry out the attack,” said a media statement.

“The FBI made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. The investigation remains ongoing.”

FBI agents learned about the possible threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts extravaganza on the White House’s South Lawn.

The FBI obtained encrypted text messages between roughly 20 participants.

The alleged plotters shared detailed maps of the area and discussed the need for a “safe house” and escape routes after the attack, court documents show.

It was unclear from the court records how close the would-be attackers came to being able to carry out their plan.

“Thanks to the rapid action of the 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,” director Kash Patel said in a post on X on Tuesday.

FBI director Kash Patel says “allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold” by authorities.Photo: AAP

Among those arrested was Tycen Proper, a 19-year-old Ohio man whose mother contacted local law enforcement last week.

The mother expressed concern about her son’s recent behaviour, including buying firearms and communicating with people online, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.

Ohio network 10WBNS reports that Proper’s father claimed his son was planning to leave the weekend of the UFC event to meet up with the online group and that they had been planning “recons” and “missions” together.

Tyson Proper was arrested after a tip-off from his mother. Photo: 10WBNS

Documents say that Proper was in possession of thousands of rounds of ammunition, two plate carriers with AR-style magazines, an AR-style rifle and a shotgun painted with the American flag, says 10WBNS.

Proper’s family said he had been making sympathetic comments about Adolf Hitler and posting antisemitic remarks on Facebook.

An assistant federal public defender assigned to represent Proper, who is charged with crimes including attempted murder of an officer or employee of the United States, did not respond to media questions.

Proper admitted in an interview with law enforcement that he participated in the planning of an attack, according to the affidavit, which says some members of the group began communicating with each other last March through a TikTok group called “Vanguard of the Old”.

“The members of the group stated that they wanted to protect the United States, which they believed was headed in the wrong direction,” the affidavit says.

“Members of the group believed that the United States needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt. Some expressed a desire that people who were involved with Jeffrey Epstein should not govern the country.”

President Donald Trump was friends with Epstein many years ago but has said he ended their relationship before the disgraced financier’s crimes became known.

-with AAP