Iraqi national accused of 18 European terror attacks targeting US and Israeli interests in federal complaint
An Iraqi national is accused in a federal criminal complaint of orchestrating or carrying out at least 18 terrorist attacks and plots across Europe targeting U.S. and Israeli interests, including the stabbing of a Jewish-American citizen, in what prosecutors say was retaliation linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The allegations are set out in a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, where the defendant is expected to make an initial appearance on charges including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorist organizations and conspiracy to bomb a place of public use.
The defendant, identified as Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, is alleged to have been involved in a range of attacks and attempted attacks, including the firebombing of a Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam, an attempted detonation of improvised explosives near a Bank of America building in Paris, and the coordination of an attack against Jewish institutions in the United States. The complaint also alleges stabbings in London that injured two people, along with additional plots tied to a broader network of activity in Europe and Canada.
Prosecutors say al-Saadi is associated with the Kata’ib Hizballah paramilitary group and has ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah. According to the complaint, he directed and encouraged others to carry out attacks against U.S. and Israeli interests, including civilians, following the escalation of the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran.
Authorities further allege that he and his associates claimed responsibility for a series of attacks carried out under a group name linked to Kata’ib Hizballah. The complaint also says he attempted to fund a planned attack on a synagogue in New York, but the individual he communicated with was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.
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