Three vans recovered as 3 Iran-backed operatives indicted over alleged role in RAF base terror plot
Three defendants charged
The Justice Department announced Tuesday that three Iran-backed operatives were charged with plotting a terrorist attack at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. U.S. troops are stationed at the base.
Al-Saadi is in federal custody in New York. Prosecutors allege he worked with Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national, using coded messages passed through third parties.
Preparations alleged by prosecutors
Prosecutors say that beginning in August, Al-Saadi directed and paid associates in the United Kingdom to arrange an attack. He allegedly instructed an unnamed person to conduct surveillance at the base.
The filing also alleges that Al-Saadi paid several unnamed people to organize vans and fuel barrels, research chemical accelerants, and buy metal intended for use as shrapnel. Prosecutors say he told them to add decals that could make the vans appear to belong to a fuel delivery or pool supply business.
Messages and recovered vans
Prosecutors say Al-Saadi also directed family members to pass messages to his co-conspirators. In a July call with his sister, he asked her to relay messages to Mohajeri about “work,” which prosecutors said referred to terrorist activity, and asked whether some work had been canceled or paused.
On Sept. 24, Al-Saadi allegedly asked about al-Hassani and told his family to “give him money so we can do it,” a reference prosecutors said meant the RAF Fairford attack. British law enforcement recovered three vans bearing fuel delivery decals and arrested the drivers.
Key points
- Three Iran-backed operatives face charges over an alleged attack plan at RAF Fairford.
- Prosecutors allege Al-Saadi arranged surveillance, vehicles, fuel and potential attack materials.
- British authorities recovered three vans with fuel delivery decals and arrested the drivers.
- Al-Saadi is in federal custody in New York.