8-count indictment details failed van attack plan at RAF Fairford
Federal prosecutors allege a New York detainee coordinated fuel van explosions with two co-conspirators to target a base housing U.S. troops in the United Kingdom.
By Matthew Collins ·
The Justice Department unsealed an eight-count superseding indictment on Tuesday against three Iran-backed operatives accused of plotting a September attack on Royal Air Force Fairford in the United Kingdom. The base houses U.S. troops, and the plan called for three fuel-filled vans to explode at the facility.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, currently in federal custody in New York, was initially indicted in May for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorist organizations. The new charges allege he coordinated the operation with Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national. Prosecutors state Al-Saadi used coded messages passed through third parties to maintain contact with the other two men, neither of whom is currently in custody.
According to the filing, Al-Saadi directed associates in the U.K. starting in August to prepare for the strike. He allegedly paid individuals to conduct surveillance, organize vehicles, and purchase metal for shrapnel. The plan involved marking the vans with decals to resemble a fuel delivery or pool supply business to evade detection.
The indictment cites specific communications, including a July phone call where Al-Saadi asked his sister to check on the status of their work. Her reply, that the work was not cancelled, is documented in the court filing. On Sept. 24, Al-Saadi instructed his family to send money to al-Hassani so the group could proceed with the attack.
Al-Hassani is alleged to have ordered the three drivers to proceed to RAF Fairford on Sept. 26. Two of the vans hit security checkpoints and were forced to stop. U.K. law enforcement recovered the three vehicles and arrested the drivers. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated in a statement that the United States will prosecute anyone planning a terrorist attack on a military base that hosts American servicemembers.
Prior to this unsealed filing, prosecutors had charged Al-Saadi with plotting attacks in the U.S., including one targeting a prominent Jewish institution in New York. They also accused him of involvement in attacks in Europe and Canada launched in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli military actions in Iran. The next steps in the legal process will depend on the status of the two co-conspirators currently at large.
