Three suspected Iran-backed operatives allegedly planned an attack on RAF Fairford in England using vans loaded with fuel, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday. The base housed U.S. military aircraft and personnel, and prosecutors say the alleged plot was linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kata’ib Hizballah. British authorities arrested the occupants of three vans after they were directed toward the base on Sept. 26. One defendant allegedly helped coordinate the operation through coded calls while being held in a New York jail on separate terrorism charges.
| 1) | Alleged target and planned method |
| 2) | Surveillance and vehicle preparations |
| 3) | September 26 operation and arrests |
| 4) | Coded communications from a New York jail |
| 5) | Broader allegations and federal charges |
Alleged target and planned method
The defendants identified in the eight-count superseding indictment are Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri and Mohammad Ali Al-Hassani. Prosecutors allege they targeted RAF Fairford, a British air base used by American military personnel and aircraft. The alleged plan involved three vans carrying barrels of fuel, along with research into chemical accelerants and the acquisition of metal items that could have served as explosive fragments.
The alleged objective, according to the indictment, was an attack against a military facility housing U.S. service members. The Justice Department tied the case to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kata’ib Hizballah, describing the alleged conduct as part of a broader Iran-aligned terrorist network. The charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American service members will be prosecuted by the United States government.
Surveillance and vehicle preparations
The indictment says Al-Hassani directed associates in the United Kingdom to conduct surveillance of RAF Fairford in August. One person was allegedly paid to record video of the base’s perimeter, providing information that could assist preparations for an assault.
Associates later obtained three vans and fuel barrels, prosecutors said. They allegedly covered the vehicles with commercial decals designed to make them resemble vans used by fuel-delivery or swimming-pool supply businesses. The alleged disguises, the fuel and the metal objects were presented by prosecutors as coordinated steps intended to help the vehicles approach the base while concealing their purpose.
September 26 operation and arrests
On Sept. 26, Al-Hassani allegedly instructed associates to drive the three vans toward RAF Fairford. At least two vehicles reached a security roadblock and could not proceed, according to the indictment. British authorities recovered all three vans and arrested their occupants the following morning.
The arrests prevented the vehicles from reaching the intended location, prosecutors allege. The incident involved a key U.S. bomber base in England. Approximately a dozen U.S. B-1 bombers had previously been withdrawn from the base after the incident, according to the account of the case.
Coded communications from a New York jail
Prosecutors allege that Al-Saadi helped coordinate the operation while imprisoned in New York and awaiting trial on separate terrorism charges. He allegedly used telephone calls with family members in Iraq to relay coded messages to other conspirators.
During a call on Sept. 24, Al-Saadi allegedly asked about Al-Hassani and instructed relatives to provide him with money so the operation could proceed. The allegation places the suspected coordination shortly before the vans were driven toward the base and describes how investigators believe communications continued despite his detention.
Broader allegations and federal charges
The alleged RAF Fairford plot followed attacks across Europe in March and April that prosecutors say the defendants helped organize for an Iran-aligned network. Those incidents allegedly targeted synagogues, Jewish organizations, ambulances and an Israeli embassy, and included the stabbing of two Jewish men in London.
Al-Saadi, described by prosecutors as a dual Iranian-Iraqi national, was arrested abroad in May and transferred to U.S. custody. Authorities have previously accused him of helping direct about 18 attacks in Europe and attempting to coordinate an attack on a Manhattan synagogue. The current defendants face charges including conspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, terrorism financing and conspiracy to bomb a place of public use. Some counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Three defendants were charged in an alleged plot targeting RAF Fairford. |
| 2 | The alleged plan involved fuel-filled vans, accelerants and metal objects. |
| 3 | British authorities stopped the vehicles and arrested their occupants. |
| 4 | One defendant allegedly coordinated the plot through coded jail calls. |
Summary
The indictment describes an alleged Iran-backed plan to attack a British air base used by U.S. forces. Surveillance, disguised vans, fuel and coded communications were allegedly part of the preparations. The operation was disrupted when British authorities stopped the vehicles before they reached the base, while the three defendants now face serious federal terrorism charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What location was allegedly targeted?
Prosecutors say the defendants targeted RAF Fairford in England, a British base where U.S. military aircraft and personnel were stationed.
How was the alleged attack supposed to be carried out?
The indictment alleges that associates used three vans loaded with fuel barrels and prepared additional materials, while disguising the vehicles as commercial service vans.
What happened to the vehicles?
At least two vans encountered a security roadblock on Sept. 26. British authorities recovered all three vehicles and arrested their occupants the next morning.
