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The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged three operatives, allegedly backed by Iran, with involvement in a series of plots targeting locations across the United States and Europe. The DOJ specifically points to a recent terrorist scheme near the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Fairford in the United Kingdom, where US military personnel are stationed. This incident, which occurred in late September, triggered a significant security alert after suspicious vehicles were detected close to the base.
According to the indictment made public on Tuesday, the accused—Mohsen Mohajeri from Iran, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, and Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, who holds both Iranian and Iraqi citizenship—are linked to 18 separate attacks or attempts, including those in cities such as London, Amsterdam, and Paris. Notably, some of these attacks were reportedly coordinated over FaceTime, with the DOJ stating these actions were carried out under the banner of the group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI). The department also revealed that al-Hassani allegedly orchestrated the troubling event at RAF Fairford, where suspicious vans were reported on September 27, leading to a major incident declaration.
While seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the Fairford events in the UK, Mohajeri and al-Hassani remain at large, with sources indicating they are not in US custody. Meanwhile, al-Saadi is currently detained in New York, awaiting trial on earlier charges stemming from his arrest in August. He is accused of coordinating with the other two men through intermediaries from his prison location. Court records indicate al-Saadi is scheduled for a status conference on November 19, although its relation to the new charges is unclear at this time.
The DOJ detailed numerous violent acts linked to the operatives, including arson attacks and assaults in the UK. Among the incidents cited is the near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in north London’s Golders Green area, an act whose suspect is scheduled to face trial next year. Additionally, an arson attack targeted a Jewish charity building in Hendon, north-west London, on April 17, allegedly with al-Hassani directing the assailant via FaceTime. The subsequent day, a synagogue in Harrow was set ablaze in another attack, with a teenager later pleading guilty. Despite these charges, Iran has firmly denied involvement, condemning allegations as unfounded and malicious.
The events near RAF Fairford involved three vans that appeared to be associated with fuel delivery and swimming pool supply businesses but were suspected of carrying materials intended for a terrorist act. The DOJ’s statement describes how al-Hassani allegedly paid individuals to conduct surveillance and acquire supplies like barrels of fuel and potential chemical accelerants, including potassium chloride, to be used as explosive components. Although no explosives were found in the vehicles, petrol was seized, and two of the vans were stopped at security roadblocks before reaching the base’s perimeter. The suspicious activity was reported early on September 27 by a local farmer. Following these events, the United States withdrew all bombers from RAF Fairford, a longstanding US Air Force base used for missions including recent “defensive” strikes in the Middle East. Iran has warned that any base used for aggression against its territory could be deemed a valid target
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