Ohio Man Accused of Terror Plot Stockpiled Weapons for Attack

WHO:

Fox News - Alexander Iniguez Mercado, a 20-year-old Chicago man, has been arrested in connection with the plot.

NY Post - Tycen Proper is the Ohio man accused of plotting a terror attack.

WHAT:

Fox News - Mercado was indicted for allegedly serving as an administrator and member of Signal messaging groups used to plan a violent attack on the UFC event.

Fox News - Mercado faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

NY Post - Proper allegedly built a massive stockpile of weapons, ammunition, and tactical gear.

Fox News - Proper allegedly spent $3,000 in graduation money to stockpile these items for a planned attack at a UFC event.

WHERE:

NY Post - The planned attack was aimed at a UFC event at the White House.

WHEN:

Fox News - The UFC Freedom 250 event is scheduled to take place on June 15, 2026.

Fox News - The attack was planned for a UFC event, but no specific date for the event was provided in the articles.

WHY:

NY Post - The motivation behind Proper's actions is implied to be a terror plot, but specific reasons were not detailed in the articles.

HOW:

Fox News - Mercado allegedly uninstalled the Signal app from his phone immediately after a call with the FBI, which rendered critical message data unavailable to investigators.

Fox News - Proper allegedly used his graduation money to finance the stockpiling of weapons and tactical gear.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 19:35 UTC)

A 20-year-old man from Chicago, Alexander Iniguez Mercado, has been arrested in connection with a plot to plan a violent attack on the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event, set for June 15, 2026. Mercado has been indicted for allegedly serving as an administrator and member of Signal messaging groups used for this purpose, and he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Following a call with the FBI, he reportedly uninstalled the Signal app from his phone, which made crucial message data unavailable to investigators.

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(UPDATED June 26, 2026 17:35 UTC)

Tycen Proper, an Ohio man, is accused of plotting a terror attack aimed at a UFC event at the White House. He allegedly built a massive stockpile of weapons, ammunition, and tactical gear, spending $3,000 in graduation money to finance these preparations. While the motivation behind Proper's actions suggests a terror plot, specific reasons have not been detailed in the reports.