A man held in a US prison has been accused of helping Iranian operatives plan an attack on a British air base used by American military forces. A new indictment released on Tuesday claims the suspect sent secret instructions to his contacts through calls with family members in Iraq.
The alleged target was RAF Fairford, a military base in western England. The site has been used by the US Air Force to support bombing missions during conflicts in the Middle East. Prosecutors say the planned attack was part of a wider campaign against American and Jewish interests in Europe and the United States.
The accused man is Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. He was arrested last spring over suspected links to a series of planned attacks.
According to the new indictment, al-Saadi continued to support the alleged operation while in prison. Prosecutors claim he used coded words during phone and video calls with his mother and sister in Iraq. He allegedly asked them to pass messages to associates who were involved in the plans.
Two other men have also been charged. They are Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national. Neither suspect is currently in US custody.
US prosecutors accuse the three men of working together through a network of contacts in the United Kingdom. The indictment says the group planned nearly 20 attacks against Jewish communities in Europe and the United States. The suspected attack on RAF Fairford was among the targets.
Manhattan US Attorney Jamie McDonald said the defendants helped organize a campaign of violence on behalf of groups linked to Iran. He said the alleged plans targeted Jewish communities and the British base, which houses American service members.
McDonald warned that threats from Iran and groups linked to it were a real concern for the United States and its allies. Attorney General Todd Blanche also said the government would prosecute anyone involved in planning an attack on a military base used by American troops.
The alleged plot came to light on September 27, when British police detained several men after three suspicious vans were seen traveling toward RAF Fairford. The incident led to concerns about a possible explosives attack.
Seven men were arrested in connection with the case. All were later released on bail. However, two were arrested again on suspicion of helping Iran’s intelligence service. British authorities then charged them under the National Security Act.
The incident also led to changes in US military activity at the base. American authorities moved bombers stationed at RAF Fairford back to the United States following the security concerns. Iran denied involvement in the suspected plot.
RAF Fairford is about 100 miles west of London. The base has supported US military operations for decades and has hosted American bombers during several conflicts in the Middle East.
The new indictment also explains how al-Saadi allegedly used family calls to send messages from prison. Prosecutors say he told his relatives that he owed money to Mohajeri. He then asked them to discuss their previous “work,” a term investigators believe referred to terrorist operations.
During a July 30 call, al-Saadi reportedly asked his sister what had happened to their earlier work. He wanted to know whether the plans had been canceled or only delayed. His sister allegedly told him that the work had not been canceled.
On September 24, al-Saadi asked about al-Hassani. His family reportedly said the man had been moved to the International Section. Prosecutors claim al-Saadi then instructed his relatives to give him money so the operation could continue.
Al-Saadi has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest in May. The FBI monitored and recorded his phone and video calls with family members. Court records show that he took part in nine calls between June and September.
His lawyer complained in September that some calls were repeatedly interrupted or ended without explanation. Prosecutors later said they suspected al-Saadi was using coded language to discuss attacks. The government then limited his access to one hourlong call each month.
The indictment also describes alleged attacks against Jewish sites in London. Prosecutors say that in mid-April, the three men directed an individual to set fire to a Jewish charity building. They allegedly watched the incident through a video feed shown on a large screen.
The following day, the group allegedly directed another attack on a London synagogue. Prosecutors claim al-Hassani gave instructions to set the building on fire.
Al-Saadi pleaded not guilty in June to charges involving at least 18 planned attacks in Europe. He described himself as a prisoner of war and has remained in custody without bail. His lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
US prosecutors say the alleged network included Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Both organizations are designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US government. Prosecutors have also identified al-Saadi as a commander in Kata’ib Hizballah.
The latest indictment adds new details to an investigation involving suspected Iran-backed operations in Europe. US and British authorities are examining the alleged network and its contacts. However, the charges remain allegations, and no final court ruling has established the defendants’ guilt.
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