The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged three Iran-backed operatives for their alleged involvement in a series of terror plots across the US and Europe. According to the DOJ, these men were responsible for 18 attacks and attempted attacks, including incidents in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and most recently, a major incident near RAF Fairford in the UK. The DOJ claims that Iranian agent Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, and dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi orchestrated the plot at RAF Fairford in September, where US armed forces were stationed. Seven men have been arrested in connection to the incident in the UK, while Iran has strongly denied any involvement. The DOJ alleges that al-Hassani directed the plot from New York, where he is awaiting trial on previous charges, and that Mohajeri and al-Hassani were both in Iran at the time of the incident. The trio are accused of acting in the name of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI).
The DOJ statement indicates that seven out of 18 attacks claimed by HAYI took place in the UK, with some directed over FaceTime by the three suspects. The incidents included arson, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing in London. Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, in April, and a suspect is due to stand trial next year. The indictment also details an arson attack on a Jewish charity in London on 17 April, allegedly directed by al-Hassani over FaceTime. Additionally, the trio are accused of attempting to target a synagogue in Manhattan, New York, and carrying out attacks on banks in Amsterdam and Paris.
The RAF Fairford incident occurred on 27 September when three suspicious vans were seen near the airbase. No explosive materials were found in the vans, but a quantity of petrol was seized. According to the DOJ, al-Hassani allegedly directed and paid associates in the UK to conduct preparatory steps and arrange logistics for the RAF Fairford terrorist plot as early as August. The suspects gave the vans an appearance of being used by a fuel delivery business and a swimming pool supply business before driving them to the airbase on 26 September. However, two of the vans encountered a security roadblock and were not allowed to proceed on their intended route.
The FBI Director, Kash Patel, stated that this eight-count indictment shows Iran's determination to commit terrorist attacks in Europe and the US. He added that one of the three allegedly sent coded messages to assist in future acts of violence from detention. The accused are said to have been involved in nearly 20 attempted attacks in support of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah.