Three alleged operatives working on behalf of Iran-backed terrorist organizations have been indicted for their roles in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States, including a September plot targeting a British air base where American military personnel were stationed.
asserted
personnel → allege → base
The Justice Department announced Tuesday that Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national; Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national; and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national, face an eight-count superseding indictment alleging they helped orchestrate attacks on Jewish communities and American interests in support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iraqi militia Kata’ib Hizballah.
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they → announce → Corps
Both organizations are designated foreign terrorist organizations by the United States.
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organizations → designate → States
The most recent alleged plot targeted Royal Air Force Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, which housed U.S. military aircraft and personnel.
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which → allege → aircraft
Prosecutors allege that al-Hassani coordinated the operation from Iran, recruiting and paying associates in Britain to conduct surveillance, acquire vehicles, and prepare materials for an attack.
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Hassani → allege → attack
The indictment alleges that al-Hassani arranged for associates to obtain three vans, barrels of fuel, chemical accelerants, and metal objects that could be used as shrapnel.
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that → allege → shrapnel
The vehicles were fitted with custom decals designed to make them appear to belong to a fuel delivery company and a swimming pool supply business.
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them → fit → company
On September 26, al-Hassani allegedly directed three vans toward the air base, communicating with their drivers as they approached.
uncertain
they → direct → drivers
At least two vehicles encountered a security checkpoint and were unable to proceed along their intended routes.
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vehicles → encounter → routes
British authorities recovered all three vans in the early hours of September 27 and arrested their occupants.
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authorities → recover → occupants
The indictment describes an alleged conspiracy that continued even after one of its central figures, al-Saadi, was arrested Turkey in May and transferred to the United States to face terrorism charges.
uncertain
one → describe → charges
While imprisoned in New York awaiting trial, al-Saadi allegedly used phone calls with his mother and sister in Iraq to relay coded messages to Mohajeri and al-Hassani.
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Saadi → imprison → Mohajeri
In one call, al-Saadi allegedly asked whether the group’s previous “work” had been canceled or merely put on pause.
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work → ask → pause
His sister reportedly responded that “it isn’t cancelled.”
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it → respond → ?
Prosecutors say al-Saadi used the word “work” as a reference to terrorist activity.
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Saadi → say → activity
On September 24, three days before British authorities recovered the vans, al-Saadi allegedly asked his family about al-Hassani and instructed them to “give him money so we can do it.”
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we → recover → it
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the indictment demonstrates the administration’s determination to prosecute anyone involved in targeting American military personnel.
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indictment → say → personnel
“Anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American service members will be prosecuted by the United States government,” Blanche said.
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Blanche → plan → government
He added that al-Saadi allegedly coordinated with his co-defendants in the days leading up to the attempted attack.
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Saadi → add → attack
FBI Director Kash Patel said the case exposed the reach of Iran-backed terrorist networks and their willingness to target American interests overseas.
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case → say → interests
“This eight-count indictment shows the determination of Iran to commit terrorist attacks in Europe and the U.S., including one plot that was recently prevented at RAF Fairford,” Patel said.
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Patel → show → Fairford
The air base plot was only the latest alleged operation involving the three men.
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plot → allege → men
Prosecutors say the network carried out or attempted approximately 18 attacks across Europe during the spring of 2026 under the name Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, or HAYI, which authorities describe as a front for Kata’ib Hizballah and other terrorist organizations.
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authorities → say → Hizballah
Seven of those attacks reportedly took place in the United Kingdom, more than in any other European country.
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Seven → take → country
The incidents included arson, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing in London that targeted two Jewish men, one of whom holds dual U.S. and British citizenship.
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one → include → citizenship
The indictment describes the defendants allegedly directing attacks remotely, including through live video calls.
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defendants → describe → calls
On April 17, al-Saadi, al-Hassani, and Mohajeri allegedly watched an attack unfold over FaceTime, with al-Hassani instructing the individual carrying it out to ignite and throw incendiary devices.
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Hassani → watch → devices
Al-Saadi allegedly recorded the attack, while Mohajeri filmed the men directing it.
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Mohajeri → record → it
The following day, al-Hassani allegedly guided another attacker targeting a London synagogue, telling him to “light it up like a Christmas tree” before the individual ignited and threw an improvised explosive device at the building.
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individual → guide → building
Al-Saadi had previously been charged in May with providing material support to terrorist organizations and participating in plans for attacks in Europe and an attempted bombing of a synagogue in Manhattan.
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Saadi → charge → Manhattan
The new indictment adds allegations involving the other two defendants and the RAF Fairford operation.
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indictment → add → defendants
“Today marks a major disruption of an alleged global terrorism conspiracy,” said M. Scott Proctor, acting principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
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Proctor → mark → Division
“No matter where they are in the world, the National Security Division of the Department of Justice will pursue those who target American citizens and American interests.”
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who → pursue → citizens
Al-Saadi remains in federal custody in New York.
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Saadi → remain → York
Mohajeri and al-Hassani were reportedly in Iran when the RAF Fairford plot was organized, and neither is in U.S. custody.
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neither → organize → custody
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