Former head of LAPD’s counterterrorism unit warns alleged drone plot reflects rise of ‘3D security’ threat

LOS ANGELES () — Two men from Riverside County were arrested in connection with an alleged plot targeting President Donald Trump’s UFC cage-fighting show at the White House this past weekend, Eyewitness News has learned.

A federal criminal complaint outlines what authorities describe as a chilling plan: using explosive laden drones to trigger panic at the UFC White House event, then opening fire on the crowd as people ran for safety.

Authorities say five people have been arrested so far.

A federal source who works in security and crisis management told Eyewitness News that his gravest concern is what he called “multi-pronged attacks.” He said that is exactly what the five accused men were allegedly planning.

According to the complaint, Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, and Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, were part of a plot to attack the event with drones carrying explosives. The complaint reads “…The goal of detonating the unmanned aircraft was to force the crowd attending the UFC event and other high value targets (‘HVTs’) to evacuate to the south.”

It continues: “…The plan was then for the conspirators to act as snipers…”

“The seriousness of this is one of the most conspiratorial, dangerous plots that I have seen,” said Mike Downing, who used to lead the Los Angeles Police Department’s counterterrorism and special operations bureau.

Downing said he fears the country is entering a new era of what he calls “3D security problems,” meaning plots are organized on social media and executed both on the ground and air using drones.

“They all have to be combined, and I would say that we don’t really think about that in terms of developing security plans,” he said.

The complaint also highlights how inexpensive the technology can be. One defendant allegedly said, “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it ASAP…”

With Los Angeles serving as a host city for the World Cup, the FBI’s L.A. Field Office told 7 On Your Side Investigates that there is a “no tolerance” policy for drones flying in temporary no-fly zones. Officials said 28 drones have been seized near SoFi Stadium and the Coliseum since Friday.

The FBI said those drones were not connected to any plot but were simply flying in restricted airspace. The agency said it has deployed drone detection and drone mitigation technology in every World Cup host city.