Federal prosecutors in New York have unsealed an indictment charging three men with terrorism offenses related to an alleged Iran-backed campaign involving nearly 20 attacks across Europe and the United States. The defendants are identified as Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, Mohsen Mohajeri, 48, and Mohammed Ali Al-Hassani, 35. Prosecutors allege the men acted for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iraqi militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, using a network called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya as a front.
The indictment describes a September plot targeting Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, a base that hosts U.S. military aircraft. Prosecutors allege the group used associates to conduct surveillance on the base perimeter and obtained vans with sham branding for fuel delivery and pool supply companies. The vehicles were reportedly loaded with fuel drums and metal items intended for shrapnel; the group also looked into buying chemical accelerants. On September 26, three of these vans set off toward the base; at least two were stopped at a security roadblock and British authorities seized all three the following morning.
In addition to the base plot, the men are accused of orchestrating attacks on Jewish communities, including synagogues in London and New York. The indictment alleges that in April, the suspects watched an attack unfold live on a large screen via Apple’s FaceTime app as Al-Hassani coached an attacker through throwing incendiary devices. One victim, a dual U.S.-British citizen, was reportedly among two men stabbed in London during the campaign. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald stated the men helped orchestrate a campaign of terror from thousands of miles away, with Al-Saadi allegedly continuing to send coded messages from a U.S. jail cell after being brought to the U.S. in May.
In a separate matter, British counterterrorism police arrested a 41-year-old senior U.S. Army soldier on Tuesday. The soldier, stationed at Imjin Barracks near Gloucester, is held on suspicion of offenses under the U.K. National Security Act 2023. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans stated the investigation concerns allegations related to Russia. FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest involves allegations of espionage.
For Jewish communities in London and New York, the indictment details specific threats to their safety, including arson attempts and a near-fatal stabbing. The U.S. government maintains that these activities were directed by foreign terrorist organizations, which allows for prosecuting overseas coordinators who use digital tools like FaceTime to manage local associates.
The arrests also highlight concerns regarding insider threats within the U.S. military. A senior soldier faces potential prosecution under the U.K.’s national security laws, which could influence how U.S. and U.K. agencies monitor personnel. The three men charged in the New York indictment face federal terrorism proceedings, while the unnamed soldier remains in custody at a London police station as the investigation into alleged Russian espionage continues.