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Terror suspects accused of targeting London 'wanted missiles and drones' from Iran

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Cecil, N. (2026, November 12). Terror suspects accused of targeting London 'wanted missiles and drones' from Iran. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/terror-suspects-target-london-jewish-arson-missiles-drones-iran-b1304477.html

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Evening Standard · collected 2026-11-12 · by Nicholas Cecil

Quick Summary

US authorities have filed terrorism-related charges against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani for their alleged involvement in nearly 20 incidents targeting Britain, America, and Europe since early 2026. According to the indictment, these individuals planned attacks on Jewish communities and attempted a drone attack on Israel’s embassy in London using purportedly radioactive materials. The DOJ also alleges that Mohajeri sought to acquire drones and missiles from Iran for use in their terror plots, though it is unclear if such weapons were obtained.
Written by AI on 2026-11-12, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).
See how they differ ↓

AI analysis

Story summary

As of November 12, 2026, the U.S. Justice Department charged Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national, along with Mohsen Mohajeri and Mohammad Ali Al-Hassani for plotting nearly 20 terrorist attacks targeting Jewish communities in Europe and the United States, as well as an attack on RAF Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire, UK. The indictment reveals that Saadi was able to coordinate these plots from his prison cell in New York by passing coded messages through family members. According to U.S. officials, all three men were alleged operatives of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Kata'ib Hizballah. Additionally, the suspects reportedly attempted to obtain missiles and drones from Iran to carry out their attacks.

Written for “US Charges Iranians For Terror Plots” on 2026-11-12, grounded in this article and the 27 other(s) covering the same event.

How they differ

21 outlets covered “US Charges Iranians For Terror Plots”.

What each outlet says

One AI summary per outlet of its latest article on this story, written from that article alone and checked against it. Open the article for the outlet's own words.

Evening StandardThis outlet12 Nov

US authorities have filed terrorism-related charges against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani for their alleged involvement in nearly 20 incidents targeting Britain, America, and Europe since early 2026. According to the indictment, these individuals planned attacks on Jewish communities and attempted a drone attack on Israel’s embassy in London using purportedly…

Terror suspects accused of targeting London 'wanted missiles and drones' from Iran (this article)2 articles from Evening Standard on this story
Just the News11 Nov

Three Iranian men have been indicted on terrorism charges in New York for supporting Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The indictment includes a foiled plot to attack U.S. servicemembers at a British Royal Air Force base in September. The defendants, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, are accused of planning nearly 20 terrorist…

Three Iranian men indicted on terrorism charges in New York →3 articles from Just the News on this story
The Independent11 Nov

Mohammad Ali Hassani and Mohsen Mohajeri are accused of receiving instructions via FaceTime from Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi to attack RAF Fairford, a British airbase that houses U.S. aircrafts and service members. Prosecutors allege that Hassani directed associates in Britain to carry out an attack involving explosives, while also planning another one in April. The U.S. Department of Justice describes these…

RAF Fairford organiser ‘orchestrated terror plot on Facetime’ →2 articles from The Independent on this story
Al Jazeera11 Nov

The United States has filed charges against three individuals for their alleged role in planning an assault on a British Royal Air Force base located in Fairford, UK. According to prosecutors, one of the suspects, who was already under arrest at the time, communicated by phone while in custody to coordinate the attack plans with others involved.

US charges three men for allegedly plotting attack on UK base →2 articles from Al Jazeera on this story
Daily Mail12 Nov

US prosecutors claim that Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an alleged Iranian mastermind incarcerated in New York, directed a series of terror plots in Britain via video calls and coded messages from his prison cell. Al-Saadi is accused of orchestrating 18 terrorist attacks, including seven on Jewish targets in London, by coordinating with two lieutenants in Iran. He faces charges alongside Mohammad Ali…

Iranian 'mastermind directed RAF Fairford terror plot from New York jail' →2 articles from Daily Mail on this story
Show 15 more outlets
Fox News10 Nov

The Justice Department has unveiled an indictment against three Iran-backed terrorists who plotted to attack RAF Fairford, a British air base housing U.S. troops, using fuel-filled vans as explosive devices. The suspects—Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali Al-Hassani—are accused of conducting surveillance on the base, obtaining vehicles, and preparing accelerants and shrapnel for…

Iran-backed terror suspects plotted attack on US troops using vans packed with fuel, DOJ says →
Toronto Star10 Nov

U.S. authorities charged three men with plotting nearly 20 terrorist attacks targeting Jewish communities in Europe and the U.S., as well as a planned assault on RAF Fairford, a British military base. The defendants—Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi (dual Iranian-Iraqi national), Mohsen Mohajeri (Iranian national), and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani (Iraqi national)—face charges detailed in a superseding indictment…

US charges 3 men with plotting terror attacks, including planned assault on UK airbase →
The Straits Times10 Nov

The Justice Department reported on November 10 that an Iranian-backed militant named Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, who is detained in New York, attempted to plan an attack on RAF Fairford air base in Britain by passing coded messages through family members' phone calls. Al-Saadi previously pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to support Kata'ib Hezbollah, a group designated as terrorist by the…

Iran-backed militant helped plot attack on UK's Fairford base from US jail, Justice Department says →
ABC News (AU)10 Nov

US authorities have charged three men—Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani—with plotting nearly 20 terror attacks targeting Jewish communities in Europe and the US, as well as an attack on RAF Fairford, a British military base housing American service members. Al-Saadi, who is in custody after being arrested earlier this year, allegedly continued coordinating with his…

US charges three men over terror plots, including planned assault on UK airbase →
The Guardian10 Nov

US prosecutors have charged Mohammad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iranian and Iraqi national already imprisoned in New York, with plotting the foiled attack on RAF Fairford, a UK air force base that houses American B-1 bombers. Al-Saadi allegedly used coded messages to his family to communicate with co-conspirators Mohsen Mohajeri and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani about purchasing chemicals for explosives. Five men in London were…

US prosecutors charge Iranian operative allegedly responsible for UK air force base attack →
Sydney Morning Herald10 Nov

Three men—Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani—are charged with plotting attacks on RAF Fairford in England and Jewish communities in Europe and the US, allegedly at Iran's direction. Unsealed in Manhattan Federal Court, the indictment details their coordination of an assault planned for September 27 against RAF Fairford, which houses American service members. The case…

Three charged of plotting attacks on RAF base, Jewish communities for Iran →
CBC10 Nov

U.S. authorities have charged three individuals — Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani — with planning nearly 20 terror attacks supported by Iran. The suspects allegedly targeted Jewish communities in Europe and the U.S., as well as a British airbase used by the U.S. Air Force. Al-Saadi, who was arrested earlier this year, continued to coordinate with his co-defendants…

3 charged in U.S. with planning terror attacks, including alleged planned assault on British airbase →
South China Morning Post10 Nov

The US Justice Department charged three individuals described as "Iranian operatives" for their alleged involvement in a terrorist plot at RAF Fairford airbase in September. The incident was first reported by a local farmer who noticed suspicious activities including several men and white vans near the base, leading to police intervention and subsequent charges against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen…

US charges 3 ‘Iranian operatives’ over UK airbase plot →
The Hindu11 Nov

The U.S. Justice Department announced charges on November 10, 2026, against three individuals described as "Iranian operatives" for their alleged involvement in a terrorist plot at RAF Fairford airbase in southwest England. The accused are Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, with Al-Saadi already incarcerated in New York on previous terrorism charges. They face an…

U.S. charges three ‘Iranian operatives’ over U.K. airbase plot →
BBC11 Nov

The US Department of Justice has charged three Iran-backed operatives with planning a series of attacks in Europe and the UK. The DOJ alleges that these individuals were involved in the September incident near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where suspicious vans led to a major security alert but no explosives were found. Seven men have been arrested in the UK over this incident, while the US indictment names…

Three Iran-backed suspects plotted attacks including RAF Fairford incident, US says →
NBC News11 Nov

U.S. authorities have charged three men—Mohammad Al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali Al-Hassani—with plotting nearly 20 terrorist attacks supported by Iran. These planned attacks targeted Jewish communities in Europe and the U.S., as well as a British Royal Air Force base used by the U.S. Air Force. Al-Saadi was arrested earlier this year, while Mohajeri and Al-Hassani remain at large. The indictment details…

U.S. charges 3 men with plotting multiple terror attacks, including planned attack against U.K. airbase →
Times of India11 Nov

An indictment unsealed on Tuesday claims that Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, held at New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center since spring, used coded phone calls with his family to coordinate a suspected Iran-backed terror plot targeting RAF Fairford, a British airbase used by the US military. The alleged communications directed nearly 20 attacks against Jewish communities in Europe and the US, according to…

Coded calls from Brooklyn jail: How Iran operative directed terror plots in Europe, US →
NPR11 Nov

Federal prosecutors in New York have charged three men with terrorism offenses for their alleged involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah. The indictment includes a September plot against a British air base where American forces were stationed, as well as arson attacks…

Iran-backed trio accused of plotting attacks on U.K. base hosting U.S. jets →
Toronto Sun11 Nov

Three men have been accused by U.S. authorities of participating in nearly 20 terrorist attacks and attempted assaults supporting Iranian-backed groups across the United States and Europe. The accused are Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, who face charges including conspiracy to provide support for acts of terrorism and financing terrorism. Al-Saadi is in custody and…

Three men accused of terrorist attacks, attempted assaults in U.S. and Europe →
The Daily Wire11 Nov

The Justice Department indicted three individuals—Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Mohsen Mohajeri, and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani—for their alleged involvement in nearly 20 attacks across Europe and the United States, including a plot to target RAF Fairford in Britain. The indictment alleges that they coordinated under the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iraqi militia Kata’ib…

Three Iranians Indicted For Terror Plot Against Air Force Base →

Where they agree and split

Agreed

Reported by outlets on both sides of the middle

Charges against Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national; Mohsen Mohajeri, an Iranian national; and Mohammad Ali al-Hassani, an Iraqi national, were outlined in a superseding indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court.

11 outlets
Show 3 more

“The threat presented by Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups to America and our allies is not hypothetical — it is very real,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.

7 outlets

The new indictment offers fresh insight into an episode that has been shrouded in mystery for more than a month after five men were detained after midnight Sept. 27 on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses after three suspicious vans were spotted traveling toward the base in western England.

6 outlets

According to the indictment, Al-Hassani directed associates in the United Kingdom to conduct surveillance of RAF Fairford in August, paying one individual to record video of the base's perimeter.

5 outlets

Framing

How the first headlines put it

  • The Toronto Star focuses on the overall terror plot against Jewish communities and RAF Fairford, while The Independent emphasizes the specific planned assault on RAF Fairford.13
Attributed to a source4
Stated as fact14
The headlines (18)

Iran-backed terror suspects plotted attack on US troops using vans packed with fuel, DOJ says Fox News · attributed to a source

Iran-backed militant helped plot attack on UK's Fairford base from US jail, Justice Department says The Straits Times · attributed to a source

Three Iran-backed suspects plotted attacks including RAF Fairford incident, US says BBC · attributed to a source

'Mastermind' of RAF Fairford terror plot 'directed other attacks from his US cell while on FaceTime', US prosecutors say Daily Mail · attributed to a source

US charges 3 men with plotting terror attacks, including planned assault on UK airbase Toronto Star · stated as fact

US charges three men with plotting nearly 20 attacks on Jewish communities in Europe, US Just the News · stated as fact

US charges three men over terror plots, including planned assault on UK airbase ABC News (Australia) · stated as fact

US charges 3 men with plotting terror attacks at RAF Fairford and other sites The Independent · stated as fact

US prosecutors charge Iranian operative allegedly responsible for UK air force base attack The Guardian · stated as fact

3 Iran-backed operatives indicted for alleged role in terror plots CBS News · stated as fact

Three charged of plotting attacks on RAF base, Jewish communities for Iran Sydney Morning Herald · stated as fact

3 charged in U.S. with planning terror attacks, including alleged planned assault on British airbase CBC · stated as fact

US charges 3 ‘Iranian operatives’ over UK airbase plot South China Morning Post · stated as fact

U.S. charges three ‘Iranian operatives’ over U.K. airbase plot The Hindu · stated as fact

U.S. charges 3 men with plotting multiple terror attacks, including planned attack against U.K. airbase NBC News · stated as fact

US charges 3 ‘Iranian-backed’ men over alleged plot at UK Fairford air base Al Jazeera · stated as fact

Coded calls from Brooklyn jail: How Iran operative directed terror plots in Europe, US Times of India · stated as fact

Iran-backed trio accused of plotting attacks on U.K. base hosting U.S. jets NPR · stated as fact

Words to watch (1)

Three men accused of terrorist attacks, attempted assaults in U.S. and Europe Toronto Sun

The full story: what happened, how it changed, and all 28 articles →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 38% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Toronto Star
Hedges 0 of 2 claims Outlet record 64/100
The Independent
Hedges 1 of 19 claims Outlet record 59/100
The Sydney Morning Herald
Hedges 2 of 33 claims Outlet record 61/100
NPR
Hedges 13 of 45 claims Outlet record 60/100
Evening Standard
Hedges 12 of 29 claims Outlet record 64/100
Toronto Sun
Hedges 3 of 16 claims Outlet record 95/100
Just The News
Hedges 3 of 14 claims Outlet record 94/100
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 1 of 25 claims Outlet record 67/100
CBS News
Hedges 3 of 18 claims Outlet record 68/100

Story

US Charges Iranians For Terror Plots
Politics · 28 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
16
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
38%
6 of 16 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
64/100
Evening Standard's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
28
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-11-12 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Evening Standard · 9733 article(s) · 75 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 75 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Nicholas Cecil
121 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
“And businesses have remained fairly confident regardless of still-elevated geopolitical uncertainty.” But Mr Raja cautioned that growth is set to slow over the final quarter of 2026 as higher inflation and interest rates begin to weigh.
Al-Hassani is accused of paying an unnamed individual to “perform pre-operational surveillance of RAF Fairford’s perimeter”. He also allegedly “tasked and paid several individuals to help him prepare for the plot, including by procuring vans and barrels of fuel, researching the purchase of chemical accelerants, including large quantities of potassium chloride, and purchasing metallic objects that could be used as explosive shrapnel”.
In the photo, Mohajeri’s hand is on the computer mouse, according to the legal documents, which would have enabled him to move the cursor around the map of London, with the outline of The Thames seemingly visible on screen.
The eight 24-hour strikes are on: - Thursday 26 November 2026 - Thursday 17 December 2026 - Saturday 19 December 2026 - Monday 4 January 2027 - Wednesday 6 January 2027 - Wednesday 17 February 2027 - Tuesday 23 February 2027 - Thursday 25 February 2027 London Underground stressed that drivers could now choose to stay on a five-day week with a guarantee of remaining at the same depot.
“Should we receive any reports, they will be carefully assessed.
Lawyers for Walliams, who could not be named, argued that the broadcast and publication of the claims against the TV star should not be allowed because of a risk that he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.
Two Cabinet ministers heavily criticised Ian Winter KC and suggested his comments in court was the type of conduct which could discourage rape victims from coming forward to contact police about alleged offences.
“Hackney will continue to engage in the debate over road user charging and will consider lobbying for the introduction of systems of smart road pricing such as pay-per-mile in London as a pilot scheme or on a national basis.”
Read More However, some legal experts suggested he might be able to reduce his sentence on appeal.
The judge stressed that he had a “belief that fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live”.
Also by Nicholas Cecil
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 121 articles by Nicholas Cecil →

Topics

DOJ IRGC Iran Iranian Iraqi

Subjects

IRGC ORG · 4× Iran GPE · 4× Al-Saadi PERSON · 3× DOJ ORG · 3× Iranian NORP · 3× Iraqi NORP · 3× Mohajeri PERSON · 3× Britain GPE · 2× Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi PERSON · 2× Mohsen Mohajeri PERSON · 2×

Narrative

Read More Al-Saadi, 32, is alleged to have conspired and urged other people for nearly a decade to commit violent attacks against the US and its citizens “on behalf of terrorist organisations, including multiple global terror proxies for the Iranian regime”. “In early March 2026, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi and Mohsen Mohajeri, the defendants, began plotting to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe,” says the indictment.
framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-12
Al-Hassani is accused of paying an unnamed individual to “perform pre-operational surveillance of RAF Fairford’s perimeter”. He also allegedly “tasked and paid several individuals to help him prepare for the plot, including by procuring vans and barrels of fuel, researching the purchase of chemical accelerants, including large quantities of potassium chloride, and purchasing metallic objects that could be used as explosive shrapnel”.

Claims (16 extracted, 6 hedged)

The claim is made in an indictment by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on terrorism-related charges against three individuals over their suspected involvement in nearly 20 incidents across Europe and America. uncertain
claim → make → Europe
Iranian-Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri, and Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani have been charged in an eight-count indictment in connection with their alleged activities in support of two US-designated foreign terrorist organisations, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah. asserted
national → charge → organisations
Seven of their alleged plots targeted Britain including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, attacks on synagogues in London, the arson on Hatzola ambulances in the capital, strikes on a Jewish charity and media organisation, and a purported attack on the Israeli Embassy in Kensington with drones claimed to have been “loaded with dangerous carcinogenic and radioactive materials”, according to the legal documents. uncertain
Seven → allege → documents
They state that Mohajeri, 48, is an operative of the IRGC military force, accused of being Iran’s main exporter of terrorism. asserted
Mohajeri → state → terrorism
Read More Al-Saadi, 32, is alleged to have conspired and urged other people for nearly a decade to commit violent attacks against the US and its citizens “on behalf of terrorist organisations, including multiple global terror proxies for the Iranian regime”. “In early March 2026, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi and Mohsen Mohajeri, the defendants, began plotting to carry out terrorist attacks in Europe,” says the indictment. asserted
indictment → read → Europe
“To do so, al-Saadi and Mohajeri, who was officially a member of the IRGC from at least in or about 2004, discussed procuring drones and missiles from Mohajeri's IRGC contacts and broader network in Iran. asserted
who → do → Iran
It is not clear if they ever managed to obtain these weapons. asserted
they → manage → weapons
But drones featured in one of the alleged propaganda plots, the purported strike on Israel’s embassy in London. asserted
drones → feature → London
No drones were found but the area around the embassy, including Kensington Gardens, was sealed off as police checked for any deadly weapons. asserted
police → find → weapons
It was one of several incidents allegedly carried out by a new terrorist group with the pseudonym Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which was allegedly a front for Kata’ib Hizballah, according to the legal papers. uncertain
which → carry → papers
Al-Hassani, 35, an Iraqi citizen who had lived in the UK, is alleged to have used his contacts and criminal associates to carry out terror attacks in Britain. asserted
who → live → Britain
The DOJ claims al-Saadi was involved in plots from behind bars in Brooklyn jail, including on the RAF base, by allegedly passing on messages through his family, referring to planned attacks as “work”. uncertain
Saadi → claim → work
Seven people have been arrested and bailed in the UK over the incident at the West Country airbase, which was used by US bombers for airstrikes on Iran, after three suspicious vans were stopped near the site on September 27. asserted
vans → arrest → September
Police seized a quantity of petrol but found no explosive materials in the vans. asserted
Police → seize → vans
Al-Hassani is accused of paying an unnamed individual to “perform pre-operational surveillance of RAF Fairford’s perimeter”. He also allegedly “tasked and paid several individuals to help him prepare for the plot, including by procuring vans and barrels of fuel, researching the purchase of chemical accelerants, including large quantities of potassium chloride, and purchasing metallic objects that could be used as explosive shrapnel”. uncertain
that → accuse → shrapnel
He instructed those individuals to outfit the vans “to create the appearance that they were used by a fuel delivery business and a swimming pool supply business”, according to the DOJ. uncertain
they → instruct → DOJ
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