RAF Fairford attack plot detailed in New York indictment over coded jail messages

An Iranian-Iraqi man held in a New York jail on terrorism charges was accused of sending hidden messages to Iranian operatives. Prosecutors said those messages supported a plan to attack RAF Fairford in western England. The US Air Force has used the base, including for bomber deployments. The allegation appeared in an indictment that was unsealed on Tuesday.

Representative image

The case also described a wider plot linked to Iran-backed operatives, involving nearly 20 planned attacks. Prosecutors said Jewish communities in Europe and the United States were among the targets. Two other men were charged alongside Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi. Those men, Mohsen Mohajeri and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, were not in US custody.

RAF Fairford attack plot and Iran-backed operatives

The unsealed filing added detail to an incident that became public on Sept. 27. Several men were detained after three suspicious vans were seen heading towards RAF Fairford. The base is about 100 miles, or 160 kilometres, west of London. American bombers have operated there during conflicts in the Middle East.

Al-Saadi, described as a dual Iranian-Iraqi national, was jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. Prosecutors said the RAF Fairford plan continued despite an arrest last spring. The allegations said al-Saadi used phone and video calls to family members in Iraq. Prosecutors said coded language helped pass guidance to associates.

"These defendants helped orchestrate a campaign of terror on behalf of terrorist organisations affiliated with Iran that targeted Jewish communities in Europe and the United States, and the British military base, RAF Fairford, housing American service members,\" said Manhattan US Attorney Jamie McDonald.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said: \"Anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American service members will be prosecuted by the United States government.\" Blanche also said: \"The threat presented by Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups to America and our allies is not hypothetical - it is very real.\"

Coded calls from jail and RAF Fairford messages

Court records said al-Saadi’s calls were recorded and monitored by the FBI. Prosecutors said al-Saadi used terms like \"work\" and \"a job\" to signal terrorist activity. In one July 30 call, al-Saadi asked a sister, \"What are they doing about all our old work?\" The indictment said the sister replied that it \"isnt canceled.\"

Prosecutors said al-Saadi told relatives that money was owed to Mohajeri. The filing said al-Saadi asked family members to pass messages about \"work\" to Mohajeri. On a Sept. 24 call, prosecutors said al-Saadi asked about al-Hassani. The indictment said al-Saadi instructed family to give him money so we can do it.

The Justice Department said al-Saadi was held in solitary confinement after a May arrest. The department said al-Saadi was dangerous due to an intent to hit US and Israeli interests. Still, prosecutors said al-Saadi made nine phone or video teleconference calls from June through September. Those calls were permitted under detention rules, according to filings.

In September, al-Saadi’s lawyer complained that calls were cut without clear reasons. The government later said it would limit access to one hour-long call each month. Officials cited concerns about coded language use, including \"work\" and \"a job\". A court filing also said al-Saadi’s mother warned him to stop a topic, before a call ended.

Iran-backed operatives, London arson and synagogue claims

The indictment alleged al-Saadi, al-Hassani and Mohajeri worked with a contact network in the UK. Prosecutors said the aim was terrorist attacks for an Iran-aligned militant network. The filing named the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kataib Hizballah. US authorities have designated both as foreign terrorist organizations.

Prosecutors described an alleged mid-April arson attack on a Jewish charity organisation in London. The indictment said the three men directed an individual in real time. Prosecutors said the men watched video shown from a laptop on a large screen. The next day, the filing said another person was directed to attack a London synagogue.

The indictment said al-Hassani told that person to \"light it up like a Christmas tree\". In June, al-Saadi pleaded not guilty to charges linked to at least 18 planned attacks in Europe. The report said the alleged motive was retaliation tied to the US and Israel’s war with Iran. Prosecutors said al-Saadi called himself a prisoner of war.

British authorities said seven men arrested in the UK over the RAF Fairford incident were released on bail. Officials said one was later rearrested on suspicion of helping Iran’s intelligence service. That person and another man were charged under the National Security Act, British authorities said. The UK linked the episode to Tehran, while Iran denied involvement.

After the arrests, the US withdrew bombers stationed at RAF Fairford, according to the report. The bombers were moved back to the United States. Prosecutors said al-Saadi remained held without bail. Lawyers for al-Saadi did not immediately respond to comment requests on Tuesday, the report said.

With inputs from PTI