RAF Fairford attack plot: US says jailed New York man sent coded messages to Iranian operatives

US prosecutors said a detainee in New York used family calls to send coded messages. The messages went to Iranian-linked operatives, prosecutors alleged. Investigators said the plot targeted RAF Fairford in western England. US Air Force bombers used the British base. A new indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, described the alleged messaging in detail.

Representative image

The new charges named Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national. Al-Saadi was held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. Prosecutors said Al-Saadi supported the RAF Fairford plan after an arrest last spring. The case also alleged plans for nearly 20 attacks on Jewish communities.

RAF Fairford attack plot and Iran-backed operatives

The indictment said Al-Saadi used phone and video calls to speak with family in Iraq. Prosecutors said Al-Saadi used coded terms to push associates forward. Two other men were also charged. They were Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national. Neither man was in US custody.

"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. \"The threat presented by Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups to America and our allies is not hypothetical -- it is very real.\"

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.\" Prosecutors alleged the men worked for an Iran-aligned network. The filing named the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kataib Hizballah. US authorities listed both groups as foreign terrorist organisations.

RAF Fairford arrests in the United Kingdom and bomber withdrawal

British authorities said six men were first arrested over the RAF Fairford incident. All were later released on bail, according to British authorities. Two were then re-arrested on suspicion of helping Iran’s intelligence service. British authorities said charges were filed under the National Security Act. Iran denied involvement, but UK officials linked the episode to Tehran.

The mystery around the UK detentions dated back to Sept. 27. Officials had detained men after reports of suspicious vans. Three vans were seen travelling towards the air base. The vans raised concerns about explosives and terrorism offences. After the arrests, US bombers stationed there were withdrawn. The aircraft were redeployed to the United States.

RAF Fairford sits about 160 kilometres west of London. The base has hosted American bombers across decades. It was used during conflicts in the Middle East. US bombers were stationed there when the suspicious van reports emerged. The indictment linked the alleged UK contacts network to the planned attack.

RAF Fairford case details from calls and coded terms

US prosecutors said Al-Saadi spoke in code with relatives from jail. The indictment said Al-Saadi told family that Al-Saadi owed money to Mohajeri. Prosecutors said Al-Saadi asked relatives to pass \"work\" messages. Investigators said \"work\" referred to terrorist activity. Court papers said Al-Saadi had been in solitary confinement since May.

\"What are they doing about all our old work?\" al-Saadi asked his sister on a July 30 call, according to the indictment. The filing said Al-Saadi asked if it was cancelled or paused. It said the sister replied that it \"isnt cancelled.\" Prosecutors said the exchange supported claims about ongoing plans.

The indictment described another call on Sept. 24. Prosecutors said Al-Saadi asked about al-Hassani. Al-Saadi was told al-Hassani moved to the International Section, the filing said. Prosecutors alleged Al-Saadi told family to give money \"so we can do it.\" The Justice Department said Al-Saadi was dangerous, citing a desire to attack US and Israeli interests.

RAF Fairford indictment and monitored phone access dispute

Court filings said the FBI monitored and recorded Al-Saadi’s phone and video calls. Al-Saadi’s lawyer complained in September about repeated call disruptions. The government later sought tighter limits due to coded language. Officials pointed to terms like \"work\" and \"a job.\" Prosecutors said Al-Saadi was limited to one hour-long call each month.

Prosecutors said Al-Saadi still completed nine phone or video calls from June through September. One filing said Al-Saadi’s mother warned Al-Saadi to stop a topic. The same filing said the FBI then ended the call. The indictment said the three men used UK contacts for attacks. Prosecutors said the activity served an Iran-aligned terrorist network.

The indictment included incidents linked to London in mid-April. Prosecutors said the men directed arson at a Jewish charity organisation. The filing said the men watched events live on video. It said the video was projected from a laptop to a large screen. The next day, prosecutors said a synagogue in London was targeted.

The indictment said al-Hassani told an individual to \"light it up like a Christmas tree\". Prosecutors described the direction as part of the synagogue attack plan. Separately, the case record said Al-Saadi pleaded not guilty in June. The charges said Al-Saadi plotted at least 18 attacks in Europe. Prosecutors linked the alleged motive to retaliation for the US and Israel’s war with Iran.

Al-Saadi called Al-Saadi \"a prisoner of war.\" Court records said Al-Saadi was held without bail. US prosecutors said Al-Saadi was a Kataib Hizballah commander. Lawyers for Al-Saadi did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. The unsealed indictment set out how prosecutors tied the jail calls to the alleged RAF Fairford plot.

With inputs from PTI