Iran-Backed Operatives Charged in UK Air Base Terror Plot

Three operatives supported by Iran have been charged with planning a terrorist attack on a British Royal Air Force base in the UK where American troops are stationed. The U.S. Justice Department made the announcement on Tuesday.

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi was indicted in May on federal charges. The charges include conspiracy to provide material aid to Iran-backed groups such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. An updated indictment, disclosed on Tuesday, accuses Al-Saadi of collaborating with two operatives for an attack at the British Royal Air Force base in September. Al-Saadi is currently detained in New York.

The Justice Department claims Al-Saadi planned the air base assault with Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian citizen, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi citizen. He allegedly communicated with them through coded messages. Sources informed CBS News that Mohajeri and al-Hassani have not been arrested.

Starting in August, prosecutors assert that Al-Saadi organized and financed associates in the UK to prepare for the RAF Fairford attack. This included instructing an unidentified person to observe the base. Later, Al-Saadi supposedly funded unnamed individuals to gather vans, fuel barrels, research accelerants, and purchase metal for potential bomb shrapnel.

The charges claim that the plan was for three individuals to drive fuel-laden vans to RAF Fairford, leading to an explosion. Al-Saadi reportedly instructed to mark the vans with decals posing as a fuel delivery or pool supply company. His family members were also asked to relay messages to his partners. During a phone call in July, Al-Saadi asked his sister to contact Mohajeri about ‘work,’ referring to their activities. His sister confirmed the work would continue.

On September 24, Al-Saadi allegedly inquired about al-Hassani and instructed his family to give al-Hassani money to carry out the RAF Fairford attack. The indictment claims that al-Hassani managed three individuals who attempted to drive the vans to RAF Fairford on September 26. Two vans were stopped at security checkpoints and couldn’t proceed. UK law enforcement arrested the drivers and found vans with phony fuel company decals.

Previously, prosecutors alleged Al-Saadi had plans for U.S. terror attacks, targeting a Jewish institution in New York. He had been accused of orchestrating about 18 terror attacks in Europe and two in Canada against U.S. and Israeli interests since March. These were seen as counteractions to U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran.

Attorney General Todd Blanche conveyed that any individual planning to attack a base housing U.S. servicemembers would face prosecution by the U.S. government.

In: Terrorism, Iran, United States Military, United Kingdom