Iranian Operative Allegedly Used Coded Jail Calls to Direct Failed UK Airbase Terror Plot

A suspected Iranian-backed operative held in a New York prison allegedly used coded messages passed through family telephone calls to coordinate a failed terrorist plot targeting a British military airbase housing United States military aircraft and personnel.

The allegations were contained in a new indictment unsealed on Tuesday, November 10, by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, accusing three men of involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States.

The central figure, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a 32-year-old dual Iranian-Iraqi national, was already in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, when he allegedly continued coordinating the planned attack on RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, southwestern England.

According to prosecutors, al-Saadi communicated with his mother and sister in Iraq through monitored telephone calls, using coded expressions to relay instructions to two alleged associates, Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national.

The indictment said al-Saadi frequently used the word “work” as a reference to terrorist activities. During one conversation with his sister in July, he allegedly asked what was happening with their previous “work” and whether it had been cancelled or merely suspended.

His sister reportedly replied that it had not been cancelled.

In another conversation on September 24, al-Saadi allegedly asked about al-Hassani and instructed his family to give him money so that the operation could proceed.

Three days later, associates allegedly attempted to move three vans towards RAF Fairford, where American B-1 bombers had been stationed.

US prosecutors said al-Hassani had coordinated preparations for the operation, including paying individuals to conduct surveillance around the airbase and arrange the procurement of vehicles, barrels of fuel, chemical accelerants and metallic objects that could potentially be used as explosive shrapnel.

The vans were reportedly fitted with commercial-style logos designed to make them appear to belong to fuel delivery and swimming pool supply businesses.

On September 26, the vehicles were allegedly driven towards the military installation. At least two encountered security checkpoints and were prevented from continuing along their intended routes.

British law enforcement subsequently recovered the three vans and arrested their occupants in the early hours of September 27.

The US Justice Department said al-Saadi had allegedly continued coordinating with his associates through third parties despite being detained on earlier terrorism-related charges.

The new eight-count indictment also accused the three men of supporting Kata’ib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), organisations designated as foreign terrorist organisations by the United States.

Prosecutors further linked the alleged network to attacks against Jewish communities and institutions in Europe and the United States, including arson attacks on a Jewish charity and a synagogue in London.

US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the government would pursue anyone involved in planning attacks against military installations housing American service members.

FBI Director Kash Patel described the indictment as evidence of the threat posed by Iran-linked networks to the United States and its allies.

Al-Saadi has previously pleaded not guilty to earlier terrorism charges and remains in US custody. Mohajeri and al-Hassani were not reported to be in American custody when the new charges were announced.

Iran has denied involvement in the suspected RAF Fairford plot.

The latest indictment provides further details about how investigators believe the operation was coordinated across international borders, including the alleged use of prison telephone calls to communicate with individuals outside the United States.

The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.