US Charges Three Iran-Backed Suspects Over Plots Including RAF Fairford Incident
The US Justice Department charges three individuals linked to Iran over nearly 20 attempted plots, including a September security incident near the RAF Fairford air base in the UK.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The US Department of Justice unsealed charges against three operatives allegedly backed by Iran for plotting multiple attacks.
- The suspects are accused of orchestrating nearly 20 attempted attacks supporting Iran's IRGC and Kataib Hezbollah.
- A major incident occurred in September involving suspicious vans laden with fuel near the US-stationed RAF Fairford base in the UK.
- Iran has strongly denied any involvement in the security breach and suspicious van incident near the air base.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced criminal charges against three alleged Iran-backed operatives, accusing them of coordinating a series of terrorist plots across the United States and Europe. These operations reportedly include a major security incident that unfolded in September near the RAF Fairford air base in the United Kingdom, where United States armed forces are stationed.
The indicted individuals are Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, and dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi. According to the federal indictment, the trio planned European operations under the cover name of a purportedly new group styling itself as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (The Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand - HAYI).
Court documents reveal that one of the suspects communicated with UK-based contacts while detained in a New York prison awaiting trial on unrelated charges. The other two co-conspirators allegedly directed activities and transmitted coded messages from inside Iran to prepare for future acts of violence.
The incident near the RAF Fairford base in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, triggered a major security response on September 27 after local authorities received reports of suspicious vehicles near the perimeter. British police have arrested seven men in connection with the breach. Following the threats, President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of all US bombers from the installation.
"This eight-count indictment shows the determination of Iran to commit terrorist attacks in Europe and the US,"
Kash Patel, FBI Director
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Prosecutors detailed that al-Hassani hired accomplices in September to procure vans, barrels of fuel, chemical accelerants including potassium chloride, and metal objects intended for use as explosive shrapnel. The conspirators disguised the vans to resemble fuel delivery and swimming pool supply vehicles. On September 26, operatives drove the vehicles toward the RAF Fairford perimeter, though at least two vans encountered security roadblocks and failed to reach their intended destinations.
This indictment highlights the evolving nature of transnational security threats, where digital communication channels from detention facilities are exploited to coordinate physical sabotage abroad. RAF Fairford remains a vital strategic asset for United States military operations, frequently utilized for long-range bomber deployments, rendering it a high-profile focal point in geopolitical tensions involving Iran.
Source: BBC World
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