US authorities charged three men on Tuesday over allegedly plotting a "campaign of terror," claiming that the trio had planned nearly 20 attacks against Jewish communities in Europe and the United States, as well as Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford airbase.
The British base was used by the US for attacks against Iran. It came under the spotlight in late September, when UK authorities detained several men over a "major incident" near the military compound.
The officials had received information about suspicious vehicles nearing the base and responded by setting up a safety zone and evacuating homes in the area, as well as by dispatching strong security forces and a bomb disposal unit. Five people were arrested.
The US has since withdrew its bombers from the base.
One of the defendants charged on Friday allegedly helped coordinate the Fairford incident from a US jail.
An updated indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court charged an Iranian-Iraqi dual national, an Iranian national and an Iraqi national. Only the dual national is in custody.
"These defendants helped orchestrate a campaign of terror on behalf of terrorist organizations affiliated with Iran," US Attorney Jamie McDonald said.
Prosecutors claim the dual national used coded messages to relatives from jail to arrange payments to people who could carry out attacks.
