USA accuses Iranians of coordinating and planning attacks in Europe
Expanded indictment in Manhattan: Defendants are said to have prepared an attack on the Fairford base on behalf of Iran
Quick Look
- The US justice system has indicted three men who are said to have prepared an attack on the British air base at Fairford on behalf of Iran.
- According to the prosecution, they also planned attacks in London, Munich and Amsterdam.
- A defendant has been in custody in New York since May.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The amended indictment was released Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan. The Fairford base in southwest England is also used by the US Air Force. British police stopped delivery trucks on the way to the base on September 27 after residents reported three suspicious vehicles.
The US justice system has indicted three men who are said to have prepared an attack on the British air base at Fairford on behalf of Iran. This emerges from an amended indictment that was released on Tuesday in a federal court in Manhattan. The US Air Force also uses the base in southwest England.
The defendants are 35-year-old Mohammed Ali al-H., 32-year-old Mohammed Baker Saad Dawud al-S. and Mohsen M.
Al-S. has Iraqi and Iranian citizenship, the other two are an Iranian and an Iraqi. Only al-S. is in custody: He has been in prison in New York since May in connection with terror charges. He pleaded not guilty in June.
“Very real”: Prosecutor warns of threat from Iran
According to the indictment, al-H. several men to drive to the base in delivery trucks at the end of September. He is said to have previously paid them to get metal objects that would fly like splinters in an explosion. The cars were supposed to be disguised as fuel delivery vehicles; some were loaded with barrels of fuel.
As. is said to have coordinated with his co-defendants in the days before the allegedly planned attack and sent them coded messages with instructions. From prison, he is also said to have instructed relatives to pass on money to possible assassins.
“The threat posed by Iran is not hypothetical – it is very real,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.
As. is said to have coordinated attacks in London, Munich and Amsterdam
Together with M. al-H. and al-S. According to the indictment, he was involved in further attacks in support of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. As. accuse US authorities of planning attacks on US and Israeli targets and inciting others to kill US citizens and Israelis in retaliation for the US and Israel's war against Iran.
He and several accomplices are said to have planned and coordinated at least 18 attacks in Europe and two in Canada. These include knife attacks on two Jews in London in April as well as arson attacks on synagogues and Jewish shops in Munich, Amsterdam and other cities.
British police stopped delivery trucks on their way to the Royal Air Force base on September 27 after residents nearby reported three suspicious vehicles. Several suspects were arrested and later released.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham called it "almost certain" that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was behind the incident. Iran denied involvement. The US Air Force then withdrew its B-1 bombers from Fairford.
ap/afp/eck
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
US authorities will continue to investigate the planned attacks in Europe and Canada.
Very likely · Within weeks
Extradition requests are being made for the defendants who are not in custody.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- When exactly did the attack on Fairford take place?
- What evidence supports the charges against the three men?
- Will the two defendants who are not in custody be extradited?
