The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced charges against three alleged Iran-backed operatives, accused of involvement in a series of plots in the US and Europe. The DOJ claims that these individuals, including Iranian Mohsen Mohajeri, Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, and dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, orchestrated a terrorist plot at an air force base in the United Kingdom, specifically near RAF Fairford, where US armed forces were stationed. The alleged incident occurred in September 2026.
The DOJ alleges that the three men were involved in 18 attacks and attempted attacks, including incidents in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and other European cities. Some of these incidents were said to be directed by the men over FaceTime. The accused individuals are reportedly linked to the group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI).
The indictment unsealed on Tuesday by the DOJ accuses al-Hassani of orchestrating a terrorist plot at RAF Fairford, where a major incident was declared after suspicious vans were reported near the base. Seven men have been arrested in the UK over the incident at RAF Fairford. Iran has strongly denied any involvement. Al-Hassani and Mohajeri, who were allegedly both in Iran at the time of the incident, are not in custody, according to two sources.
The DOJ statement claims that out of 18 terrorist attacks for which HAYI claimed responsibility in Europe during spring 2026, seven took place in the UK. The attacks involved arsons, explosives, and in one instance, a near-fatal stabbing in London of two Jewish men, including a dual US-British citizen. Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, in April 2026. A suspect is due to stand trial next year.
The indictment also details an arson attack on a Jewish charity in London on 17 April 2026, which allegedly saw al-Hassani directing an individual over FaceTime. On 17 April, a building previously used by Jewish Futures, an educational charity, was set alight in Hendon, north-west London. The following day, the DOJ said al-Hassani participated in another video call with an individual carrying out an attack on a synagogue in London. On 18 April, Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow was targeted in an arson attack. A 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the incident earlier this year.
The indictment also claims the three were involved in attacks on the Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam on 15 March and on the Bank of America building in Paris on 28 March. It added that the trio tried to carry out attacks on "Jewish institutions in the US", including attempting to target a synagogue in Manhattan, New York in March or April.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that this eight-count indictment shows the determination of Iran to commit terrorist attacks in Europe and the US. He added that one of the three "allegedly sent coded messages to assist in future acts of violence" from detention. The accused are reportedly involved in nearly 20 attempted attacks in support of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah.
The DOJ stated that in August, al-Hassani allegedly directed and paid associates in the UK to conduct preparatory steps and arrange logistics for the RAF Fairford terrorist plot. On 22 August, al-Hassani paid one individual to perform pre-operational surveillance of RAF Fairford's perimeter, according to the department. In September, al-Hassani paid several people to help him prepare for the plot, the DOJ also alleged. The suspects then gave the vans an appearance of being used by a fuel delivery business and a swimming pool supply business, the DOJ stated. On 26 September, al-Hassani allegedly tasked individuals to drive three vans, some of which were later determined to contain barrels of fuel, to the RAF Fairford base. The DOJ also said al-Hassani was "in frequent communication" with the van drivers and helped to direct them where to drive. However, it was reported that at least two of the three vans encountered a security roadblock and were not allowed to proceed on their intended route.