Three alleged operatives tied to Iran-backed terrorist groups have been indicted for their roles in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the U.S., including a foiled plot targeting a British air base where American troops were stationed, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani face an eight-count superseding indictment for allegedly orchestrating attacks on Jewish communities and American interests in support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iraqi militia Kata’ib Hizballah, both designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S.
RAF Fairford Attack Plot
The most recent alleged scheme targeted Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, which hosts U.S. military aircraft and personnel. Prosecutors say al-Hassani, operating from Iran, recruited and paid associates in the UK to conduct surveillance, acquire vehicles, and prepare materials for an attack.
According to the indictment, al-Hassani arranged for three vans to be outfitted with fuel barrels, chemical accelerants, and metal shrapnel, disguised with decals to appear as legitimate delivery vehicles. On September 26, he allegedly directed the vans toward the base, communicating with drivers as they approached. Two vehicles were stopped at a security checkpoint, and British authorities recovered all three the next day, arresting their occupants.
Coded Messages from Prison
Al-Saadi, arrested in Turkey in May and later transferred to the U.S., allegedly continued coordinating with his co-conspirators while imprisoned in New York. Using coded language in phone calls with family, he reportedly asked if their “work”—referring to terrorist activity—had been “canceled” and was told it was merely “paused.” Days before the RAF Fairford attempt, he allegedly instructed relatives to send money to al-Hassani to proceed with the plot.
Wider Campaign of Attacks
The indictment alleges the group carried out or attempted 18 attacks in Europe under the name Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), a front for Kata’ib Hizballah. Seven attacks occurred in the UK, including arson, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London, one a U.S. citizen. In one incident, the defendants allegedly watched an attack unfold via FaceTime, directing an assailant to throw incendiary devices.
Attorney General Todd Blanche vowed to prosecute those targeting U.S. troops, while FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted Iran’s global terror ambitions. Al-Saadi remains in custody, but Mohajeri and al-Hassani are believed to be in Iran.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/three-iranians-indicted-for-terror-plot-against-air-force-base