Security has been dialled up for tonight’s Oscars ceremony in Hollywood after the FBI warned of potential Iranian drone attacks in California.
An FBI memo sent to local law enforcement and officials in California read: “We recently acquired unverified information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event the US conducted strikes against Iran”.
It added: “We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack”.
Security has been drastically stepped up for the Academy Awards ceremony tonight, where the biggest names in Hollywood will gather – though officials insisted this was a precautionary measure.
A one-mile security perimeter is being set up around the Dolby Theatre, while snipers will be positioned on rooftops surrounding the venue, armed with .50-calibre rifles. On the ground more than 1,000 private security officers will be deployed, along with bomb-sniffing dogs, and while surveillance drones will circle overhead.
Swat (special weapons and tactics) teams will also be present to counter any threats from unmanned drones, including those capable of carrying explosive devices.
And in the lead-up to the event, local and federal authorities have been working with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces to identify potential security threats via social media monitoring.
Raj Kapoor, co-executive producer of the Oscars telecast, said told journalists last week: “Every year we monitor what's going on in the world. We have the support of the FBI and the LAPD, and it's a close collaboration.”
He continued: “This show has to run like clockwork. But we want everybody that is coming to this show, that is witnessing the show, that is even a fan of the show when they’re standing outside the barricades, we want everybody to feel safe and protected and welcome, so it’s our job as a producing team to make sure that that translates”.
The ramping up of security measures echoes precautions taken at the Oscars following 9/11.
Tonight, Jewish actor Timothée Chalamet is in the running for the award for best actor for his performance as a Jewish table tennis champion in Josh Safdie’s comedy-drama Marty Supreme.
However, despite being widely tipped as the most likely winner, he may have scuppered his chances after referring in an interview to ballet and opera as art forms that “no one cares about” anymore – comments that have drawn a considerable backlash.
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