US DOJ: Mohammad Baqer al-Saadi UK Air Base Plot Indictment

• Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iran-backed terrorist, faces new charges for allegedly plotting a UK air base attack from a Brooklyn prison.
• The al-Saadi superseding indictment claims he used coded phone calls with family to coordinate the September plot against the British Royal Air Force Base in Fairford.
• Al-Saadi, a commander of Kata’ib Hizballah, is also accused of involvement in a March explosives attack in Amsterdam and attempted attacks in Paris and the U.S.
• Prosecutors allege these acts were revenge for U.S. intervention, including the killing of then-Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a February 2026 military strike.
• A federal judge expressed skepticism last week regarding the government's claims of coded phone calls from jail.

Federal prosecutors have unveiled a superseding indictment against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an individual with dual Iranian and Iraqi nationality, alleging he orchestrated a thwarted attack on a British Royal Air Force base in Fairford, United Kingdom, all while incarcerated in a Brooklyn prison.

Federal prosecutors have unveiled a superseding indictment against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an individual with dual Iranian and Iraqi nationality, alleging he orchestrated a thwarted attack on a British Royal Air Force base in Fairford, United Kingdom, all while incarcerated in a Brooklyn prison. The September plot targeted a facility housing U.S. military aircraft and personnel, with authorities claiming al-Saadi utilized coded messages during phone calls with his family to coordinate the operation. This development comes despite al-Saadi's months-long solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

The government's filing on Tuesday introduced new charges against al-Saadi and two co-defendants, Mohsen Mohajeri and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, who are accused of receiving instructions via al-Saadi's family. Prosecutors detailed instances where al-Saadi allegedly used veiled language to discuss the plot. For example, he reportedly told his family he owed Mohajeri money and directed them to convey messages about "work," a term prosecutors assert al-Saadi regularly employed to signify terrorist activity. The alleged plot was ultimately foiled when the vans intended for the attack, which prosecutors suspect were improvised explosives, encountered an unexpected security checkpoint.

The new charges against Mohammad Baqer al-Saadi extend beyond the alleged Mohammad Baqer al-Saadi UK air base plot, linking him and his co-defendants to a broader network of international terrorism. Al-Saadi, identified as a commander within Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed terrorist proxy group affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, was already facing accusations of coordinating nearly 20 terror attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States. The al-Saadi superseding indictment now implicates the trio in a March explosives attack on the Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Further allegations include attempted attacks against the Bank of America in Paris, France, and several Jewish institutions located within the United States. Prosecutors contend that these acts of terror were conceived as retaliation for U.S. intervention in the region, specifically citing the military strike in February 2026 that resulted in the death of then-Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Beyond direct operational involvement, al-Saadi is also accused of leveraging social media to disseminate calls for violence, urging followers to "[k]ill everyone who supports America and Israel" and directing individuals or groups capable of targeting Americans or Zionists, whether civilian or military, to commence attacks globally.

The ongoing legal proceedings underscore the persistent threat of international terrorism, even from individuals held in custody, and the robust efforts by the US DOJ international terrorism unit to counter such threats. Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a strong statement, affirming that "Anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American servicemembers will be prosecuted by the United States government." He further emphasized the Department of Justice's commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and safeguarding American citizens.

Despite the gravity of the charges, the defense has challenged the prosecution's interpretation of al-Saadi's communications. A federal judge expressed skepticism last week regarding the government's assertion that al-Saadi was using "coded" phone calls from jail to coordinate terror plots. Al-Saadi's lawyer, public defender Andrew Dalack, has not commented on the new indictment, but court filings reveal ongoing disputes between the parties concerning the nature of al-Saadi's family phone calls, highlighting the complexities involved in proving intent and coordination through indirect communications in such high-stakes cases.

This case highlights the persistent threat of international terrorism, even from incarcerated individuals, and the broad extraterritorial reach of U.S. counter-terrorism laws. Compliance officers should note the sophisticated methods used for coordination (e.g., coded messages via family) and ensure robust monitoring and sanctions screening processes are in place, particularly for entities with any nexus to designated foreign terrorist organizations like Kata’ib Hizballah. Lawyers representing clients in national security or international criminal defense cases should be aware of the complexities involved in prosecuting such plots, including the challenges of proving intent and coordination through indirect communications.

Source: Original reporting via U.S. Department of Justice filings.