3 charged over planning terror attacks, including alleged planned assault on British airbase, CBC reports
Three men face U.S. charges
U.S. authorities announced charges Tuesday against three men accused of plotting attacks on Jewish communities in Europe and the United States. The indictment also alleges they planned an assault on Royal Air Force Base Fairford in the United Kingdom, a site used by the U.S. Air Force.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said al-Saadi was arrested in the spring but allegedly remained in contact with his co-defendants. Prosecutors say he coordinated with them in the days before an attempted plot at the base in September.
Alleged links and communications
The indictment accuses the men of working through contacts in the United Kingdom on behalf of an Iran-aligned network. Prosecutors identify the network as including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kata’ib Hezbollah, both designated by the U.S. government as foreign terrorist organizations.
According to the indictment, al-Saadi used coded messages to relatives while jailed, allegedly directing them to pass money to people who could carry out attacks. U.S. prosecutors describe him as a Kata’ib Hezbollah commander.
Base incident and response
British authorities connected the Fairford incident to Tehran, while Iran denied involvement. The arrests led the United States to move its bombers from the base back to their home bases in the U.S.
A sixth suspect, described as a British-Iranian dual national, was arrested several days later. The article says all the men were released on bail.
Officials describe prosecution
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the U.S. would prosecute anyone planning a terrorist plot against a military base housing American service members. His statement referred to the alleged plan targeting Fairford.
The article also reports that British authorities charged two men and accused them of working on Iran’s behalf in connection with the airbase incident. It does not explain how those British charges relate to the three U.S. defendants.
Key points
- Three men were charged in the U.S. over alleged plots involving nearly 20 attacks.
- Prosecutors allege al-Saadi coordinated with co-defendants after his arrest.
- The alleged targets included RAF Fairford, where U.S. forces had been stationed.
- The U.S. moved its bombers from Fairford back to bases in the United States.