DOJ Charges Three Iran-Linked Suspects In Alleged RAF Fairford Bomb Plot
The Justice Department has unsealed terrorism charges against three alleged Iran-linked operatives accused of plotting to detonate vans packed with fuel and shrapnel at RAF Fairford, a British air base used by U.S. forces, in a foiled attack this fall.[1]
Federal prosecutors say the men worked on behalf of Iran-backed groups to target American service members, and that two of the suspects, Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri and Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, remain at large, according to two people familiar with the case.[1] Attorney General Todd Blanche warned in announcing the indictment that "anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American servicemembers will be prosecuted by the United States government."[1]
Prosecutors allege that beginning in August 2026, already-jailed operative Al-Saadi directed associates in the United Kingdom to scout RAF Fairford, secure vans and barrels of fuel, research chemical accelerants, and buy metal intended to serve as shrapnel.[1] According to the indictment, three individuals then drove fuel-laden vans disguised with fake fuel-delivery business decals toward the base on September 26, where two vehicles hit security checkpoints; all three vans were later seized by UK authorities and the drivers arrested before any explosives were detonated.[1]
Investigators say recorded jail calls show Al-Saadi steering the plot from behind bars, including a July 2026 conversation in which he asked his sister to relay messages to Mohajeri about unspecified "work" and she assured him the work "isn't cancelled."[1] In a separate call on September 24, Al-Saadi allegedly told family members to "give [al-Hassani] money so we can do it," which prosecutors say referred to funding the planned RAF Fairford attack.[1]
The RAF Fairford case grows out of a broader U.S. investigation into Iran-backed networks that has already produced earlier charges against Al-Saadi. He was first indicted in May 2026 for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the militia Kata'ib Hizballah, and prosecutors now accuse him of involvement in roughly 18 attacks in Europe and two in Canada against U.S. and Israeli targets since March 2026.[1] U.S. officials have long described Israel and forward-deployed American forces in Europe and the Middle East as mutually reinforcing parts of a regional security architecture, arguing that attacks on one can threaten the broader system Washington has built to counter Iran and other adversaries.
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📌 Key Facts
- According to CBS News, Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri and Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani are not currently in custody, based on information from two sources familiar with the matter.
- Al-Saadi allegedly directed associates in the U.K. beginning in August 2026 to conduct surveillance of RAF Fairford, arrange vans and barrels of fuel, research chemical accelerants, and purchase metal intended to serve as shrapnel for an attack.
- The indictment alleges that on September 26, 2026, three individuals drove fuel-laden vans bearing fake fuel-delivery business decals toward RAF Fairford, where two vehicles encountered security checkpoints and all three vans were later recovered by U.K. authorities, who arrested the drivers.
- In a July 2026 jail call quoted by CBS News, Al-Saadi asked his sister to pass messages to Mohajeri about unspecified "work" and was told the work "isn't cancelled."
- A separate September 24, 2026 call cited by CBS News alleges that Al-Saadi told family members to "give [al-Hassani] money so we can do it," referring to the planned RAF Fairford attack.
- CBS News reports that Al-Saadi had previously been charged in May 2026 with conspiracy to provide material support to Iran-backed terrorist organizations including the IRGC and Kata'ib Hizballah.
- Prosecutors cited by CBS News accuse Al-Saadi of involvement in approximately 18 attacks in Europe and two in Canada targeting U.S. and Israeli interests since March 2026.
- Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that "anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American servicemembers will be prosecuted by the United States government."
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS reports that Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national, are not currently in custody, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
- The article details that Al-Saadi allegedly directed associates in the UK starting in August 2026 to conduct surveillance of RAF Fairford, organize vans and barrels of fuel, research chemical accelerants, and purchase metal to be used as shrapnel.
- It specifies that three individuals allegedly drove the fuel-laden vans with fake fuel-delivery business decals toward RAF Fairford on September 26, 2026, where two of the vans encountered security checkpoints and all three vehicles were later recovered by UK authorities and the drivers arrested.
- The piece quotes a July 2026 jail call in which Al-Saadi asked his sister to pass messages to Mohajeri about unspecified 'work' and was told the work 'isn't cancelled,' and a September 24, 2026 call in which he told family to 'give [al-Hassani] money so we can do it,' referring to the planned attack.
- CBS reiterates that Al-Saadi had previously been charged in May 2026 with conspiracy to provide material support to Iran-backed terrorist organizations including the IRGC and Kata'ib Hizballah, and that prosecutors accuse him of involvement in about 18 attacks in Europe and two in Canada targeting U.S. and Israeli interests since March 2026.
- Attorney General Todd Blanche is quoted as saying that 'anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American servicemembers will be prosecuted by the United States government.'