The short version
- The Department of Justice has indicted three individuals for allegedly coordinating terrorist plots in Europe and the United States under an Iran-backed network.
- Authorities link the suspects to a September incident at RAF Fairford involving suspicious vans, which led to the removal of US strategic bombers from the base.
- Iran denies any involvement in the alleged activities, while UK police have arrested seven men separately in connection with the airbase disturbance.
The United States Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging three individuals with orchestrating a network of terrorist plots spanning Europe and the United States. The federal government alleges that these operatives, who are backed by Iran, were responsible for directing attacks carried out under the banner of a group using the pseudonym Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya. This legal action marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran, linking recent security incidents in the United Kingdom to broader Iranian strategic interests.
Central to the charges is an alleged plot targeting RAF Fairford, a military base in Gloucestershire that hosts US Air Force assets. The indictment accuses Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national, of directing associates in the UK to conduct preparatory steps for an attack on the base. According to court documents, al-Hassani paid individuals to perform surveillance on the perimeter and procure materials including vans, fuel barrels, and metallic objects intended for use as shrapnel. The suspects allegedly disguised the vehicles to resemble commercial delivery trucks before driving them toward the base in late September.
The incident at RAF Fairford occurred on the night of September 26 when three vans were spotted near the facility by a local resident. Police responded to reports of suspicious activity and declared a major incident, seizing quantities of petrol from the vehicles but finding no explosive materials. Two of the vans encountered security roadblocks before reaching their intended destination. The disturbance prompted immediate security enhancements at the base, including the deployment of armed police officers to the perimeter.
In the wake of the September event, the United States withdrew all its bombers from RAF Fairford. President Donald Trump cited threats to the base as the primary reason for the relocation of these strategic assets. The base has long served as a critical hub for US military operations in Europe and the Middle East, including recent defensive strikes against Iranian targets. The withdrawal underscores the sensitivity of American military installations abroad and the operational impact of perceived security vulnerabilities.
The indictment also details a broader campaign of violence attributed to the alleged network. Federal officials state that the group claimed responsibility for eighteen terrorist attacks across Europe in the spring of 2026, seven of which occurred in the United Kingdom. These incidents reportedly involved arson, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London’s Golders Green area. One of the victims was a dual US-British citizen. The DOJ describes these acts as part of a coordinated effort to support Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated militias.
The three defendants face charges related to their roles in this network. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen, is accused of communicating with contacts in the UK from a prison in New York where he awaits trial on previous charges. Mohsen Mohajeri and al-Hassani are alleged to have conducted similar communications from Iran. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that one of the accused allegedly sent coded messages to assist in future acts of violence while in detention, highlighting the ongoing nature of the threat.
Iran has firmly rejected the allegations, with its embassy in London condemning the accusations as unfounded and malicious. Tehran maintains that it had no involvement in the RAF Fairford incident or the broader series of attacks. In the United Kingdom, seven men have been arrested in connection with the September disturbance, separate from the US federal charges. Two British nationals have already appeared in court regarding their alleged links to the plot.
The case illustrates the complex interplay between regional conflicts and domestic security concerns in Western nations. As investigations continue, authorities are examining the logistical support and communication channels used by the alleged operatives. The outcome of these proceedings could influence future US military deployments in Europe and shape counter-terrorism strategies against state-sponsored networks. Legal proceedings for the indicted individuals are expected to unfold over the coming months.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC World↗Three Iran-backed suspects plotted attacks including RAF Fairford incident, US says
