US Department of Justice: Three men charged with supporting terrorism

Three men allegedly supported by Iran have been charged in the US for their alleged involvement in terrorist attacks. The defendants are accused of participating in almost 20 carried out or attempted attacks, which are also said to have targeted Jewish communities in Europe and the USA.

According to the Justice Department, the defendants are an Iranian and an Iraqi. The third accused therefore has citizenship of both countries. They are said to have been particularly involved in coordinating and planning the planned attacks.

The attacks were intended to serve as retaliation for the US war against Iran, as the AFP news agency reported, citing US authorities. The Justice Ministry alleges that the acts were intended to support the Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which is allied with Iran.

The attacks in which the defendants are said to have been involved in planning include a knife attack that was carried out in the Jewish-dominated London district of Golders Green at the end of April. Two men were seriously injured.

The defendants are said to have helped plan the foiled attack on a military base

The three men are also said to have been involved in the preparation of the ultimately foiled attack on the British air base RAF Fairford, where US forces are stationed. At the end of September, five men were arrested for driving three delivery trucks close to the base area.

As the AFP news agency further reports, these men are said to have been commissioned and instructed by at least two of the three defendants. Some fuel had been transported on the delivery truck, presumably to cause an explosion.

Fairford air base is owned by Britain but has been repeatedly used by US bombers in conflicts in the Middle East. American aircraft also took off from there during the Iran War.