Iran's Outsourced Terror: Biker Gangs and Hired Hands in UK Attacks
Experts are raising alarms about Iran's increasing reliance on criminal networks to execute terrorism campaigns abroad, with recent incidents like the firebombing of four ambulances in Golders Green highlighting this dangerous trend. The attack, which targeted a Jewish charity on Monday, has brought renewed scrutiny to Tehran's tactics of using hired hands to carry out violence while maintaining plausible deniability.
A History of Proxy Violence
In a revealing interview last March, Mohsen Rafighdoost, a former minister of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), openly discussed orchestrating assassinations across Europe. He recounted the murders of Prince Shahriar Shafiq in 1979, Gen Gholam Ali Oveissi in 1984, Shapour Bakhtiar in 1991, and Fereydoun Farrokhzad in 1992, all carried out by Basque separatist groups. Rafighdoost explained that intermediaries, such as an Egyptian cleric in Germany, handled payments to create distance from Iranian officials. The IRGC later denied these claims, attributing them to Rafighdoost's confusion after brain surgery.
This pattern of outsourcing violence is not new, but it has evolved significantly. According to Kevan Jones, the Labour peer chairing the UK's intelligence and security committee, Iran is increasingly using organised crime and paid individuals for activities like kidnappings, assassinations, and surveillance. "They are doing this through organised crime and through individuals by paying them," Jones stated, suggesting this could be the case in the Golders Green incident if linked to Iran.
Growing Threat in the UK
The UK has become a focal point for Iranian-backed plots. In October 2025, MI5 director general Ken McCallum reported tracking over 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots in the past year alone. Former home secretary Suella Braverman noted in 2023 that Iran employs "very elusive, quite sophisticated, very brutal European-wide gangs" for its operations. An unnamed MI5 official added that Tehran is actively seeking mercenaries and operatives to build new alliances.
In the United States, court records reveal that Hells Angels biker gangs have been contracted by the Iranian regime. Two Russian mobsters, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, were convicted last year for plotting to kill Iranian American dissident Masih Alinejad for $500,000. Similarly, the ISC report identified Iranian narco-trafficker Naji Sharifizindashti's heroin syndicate as executing Iran's commands in Europe, with authorities in Sweden reporting narco-gangs carrying out Tehran's orders.
Strategic Shift to Criminal Proxies
Matthew Levitt, a former US Treasury official and senior fellow at the Washington Institute, explained that Iran pivoted to using criminal gangs in 2018 after a diplomat was convicted for planning an attack in Paris. "They realised at that point the utility of reasonable deniability and cut outs," Levitt said. "With criminal proxies, as long as you are willing to pay the price, you are also getting someone who is not squeamish about doing things that involve violence because that is what they do."
Regarding the Golders Green attack, Levitt suggested it might not involve a new terror group but rather a "kind of criminal gig economy." Data from the Washington Institute shows that nine out of 41 Iranian external operations between 2025 and 2026 were based in the UK, underscoring the country's significance as a target.
Why the UK is a Prime Target
Levitt attributes the high level of Iranian activity in the UK to the large Jewish community and Britain's historical alliance with the US. "The Iranians are not intimidated by law enforcement and they will go where the targets are and where they have the resources," he emphasized. Colin Clarke of the Soufan Centre noted that Iran has copied Russia's use of "disposable agents," which complicates investigations by creating layers of separation from the state.
This tactic, while often amateurish, allows Iran to maintain sleeper cells for potential crises. In December 2023, Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev was convicted for surveilling the Iran International TV station in London, though Iran denied involvement. Adam Baillie, a spokesperson for Iran International, stated that staff avoid socializing due to fear of attacks, with the Met police warning of increased cyber hacking threats.
Heightened Security Measures
In response to the Golders Green explosions, Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley deployed 264 extra police officers and additional firearms patrols to protect London's Jewish community. Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust warned that this reflects a real threat, especially ahead of Passover. "When you're deploying that many police officers and also extra visible armed patrols in Jewish community areas, you're not just doing that for reassurance," Rich said. "You're doing that because you think there's a real threat."
The stabbing of Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati in 2024, with two Romanian citizens set to stand trial, further illustrates the dangers. As Iran continues to leverage criminal networks, experts stress the need for vigilance and robust counter-terrorism efforts to safeguard communities at risk.
