FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as \"Main Justice,\" is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

Iran-backed militant helped plot attack on UK's Fairford base from US jail, Justice Department says

· The Straits Times

NEW YORK, Nov 10 - A member of an Iran-backed militia plotted to attack the RAF Fairford air base in Britain while detained in the US on criminal charges, the US Justice Department said on Tuesday.

• Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi attempted to pass coded messages to two other alleged Iran-backed operatives through phone calls to immediate family members from jail in New York, prosecutors said.

• Al-Saadi had previously pleaded not guilty to eight criminal counts including conspiracy to provide material support to Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia the US considers a terrorist organization.

• A lawyer for Al-Saadi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in October that a suspected plot targeting the base, which had been used by US bombers to carry out strikes on Iran, was "highly likely" to have been coordinated in Iran.

• Iran has denied any role in the suspected plot. REUTERS