US indictment alleges Iran-linked plot on RAF Fairford was coordinated from a New York jail

US prosecutors allege that a man held at a federal jail in New York helped direct a failed plot to attack RAF Fairford, a British air base used by US forces, by passing coded messages to relatives, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday, 10 November (CNN, Iran International). The allegations are prosecutors' claims; none has been tested in court. This piece is as of 11 November. In line with our standards we do not name the defendants, who are private individuals charged but not convicted.

What the indictment alleges

The eight-count indictment charges three men with terrorism-related offences over alleged support for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned Iraqi militia, and over involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks in Europe and the United States, including the September plot against Fairford, Iran International reports. The Times of India, citing the Associated Press, says the attacks were aimed at Jewish communities (The Times of India). The man at the centre, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national, was arrested earlier this year and held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, CNN reports; prosecutors say he was already in jail when he began coordinating the attack. The other two defendants, an Iranian and an Iraqi national, are not in US custody (The Times of India); CNN describes the Iranian as an IRGC operative.

Prosecutors say the jailed man used phone and video calls with his mother and sister in Iraq to relay messages, using the word "work" for terrorist activity (Mathrubhumi, CNN). In a 30 July call, per The Times of India, he asked his sister about "old work"; she replied that "it isn't cancelled", according to court documents quoted by CNN. On 24 September, according to Iran International, he told relatives to give money so "we can do it".

The vans and the base

Prosecutors say preparations began in August with surveillance of the base, and included obtaining vans and barrels of fuel; the vans were disguised as fuel-delivery and swimming-pool-supply vehicles, and three were driven toward the base on 26 September, at least two meeting a security roadblock (Iran International). British police arrested the occupants early the next morning. They later said they had found petrol but no improvised explosive devices (Iran International). CNN, citing people briefed on the matter, reports that the plan was to use the fuel-filled vans as vehicle-borne bombs (CNN). Seven men were arrested and released on conditions; two were later re-arrested and charged under Britain's National Security Act, The Times of India reports (The Times of India), and Iran International dates the charges to 27 October.

What officials and Iran have said

Manhattan US attorney Jamie McDonald said the defendants helped orchestrate a campaign of terror on behalf of Iran-affiliated groups, and that the threat from Iran and its proxies "is very real" (The Times of India). Attorney General Todd Blanche said anyone who plans a plot on a military base housing American service members will be prosecuted, the same report says. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, rejected the allegations on 30 September, telling Britain it was "barking up the wrong tree", per Iran International, which also reports that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham later told parliament the operation was highly likely coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the IRGC. After the plot the US withdrew its bombers from Fairford (The Times of India).

Further details

The Daily Mail adds that the jailed man was extradited to the US in May, that the Justice Department said the other two defendants are both in Iran (though it also says prosecutors did not disclose their whereabouts), and that prosecutors allege he also directed other attacks from jail (Daily Mail). Per the same report, his calls were monitored and recorded by the FBI, and after the government cited concerns about coded language it limited him to one hour-long call a month.