The US Justice Department has arrested and charged an Iraqi national accused of involvement in nearly 20 alleged terror attacks and attempted attacks across the United States and Europe. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi appeared in Manhattan federal court on Friday to face six terrorism-related charges.
Charges and Allegations
Al-Saadi faces charges including conspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, conspiracy to bomb a place of public use, and attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosives. The Justice Department alleges he operated as a commander for Kata'ib Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), both designated as terrorist organizations by the US.
The complaint details al-Saadi's close ties to Qassem Suleimani, the former IRGC commander killed in a US airstrike in 2020, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the leader of Kata'ib Hezbollah who died alongside Suleimani. Photographs included in the complaint show al-Saadi with Suleimani.
Attacks Across Europe
Al-Saadi is accused of involvement in a firebombing attack on a Bank of New York Mellon branch in Amsterdam in March 2025. A day after the attack, he allegedly posted a propaganda video showing aspects of the attack planning, including maps of the location. The video included a warning to stay away from American and Zionist interests.
Other attacks include an arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia, in April, and the stabbing of two Jewish men in London, including a dual US-British citizen. These attacks prompted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to describe a crisis of antisemitism.
Links to Iran and Front Groups
The complaint states that al-Saadi operated under the front group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), which is designed to further the terrorist goals of Kata'ib Hezbollah, Hezbollah, and the IRGC. Analysts had previously noted that the attacks appeared part of a hybrid warfare campaign by Tehran to destabilize US allies and harm Jewish communities.
On March 7, 2026, al-Saadi allegedly posted a message on Snapchat titled Shadow soldiers, intended to activate terrorist cells worldwide to attack in support of the IRGC and its proxies after the US and Israel began military operations in Iran in late February.
Plots in the US
The Justice Department also alleges al-Saadi attempted to carry out attacks in the US, including targeting Jewish institutions in New York. On April 3, he allegedly communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer, providing photographs and maps of a prominent synagogue in New York, as well as Jewish institutions in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona. He directed the officer to carry out attacks, discussing whether to use an improvised explosive device or set the place on fire.
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated: Thanks to the dedication and vigilance of law enforcement, this alleged terrorist commander is now in US custody. These charges show American law enforcement will never let such evil go unchecked and will use all tools to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and their leaders.
New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch added: This case puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata'ib Hezbollah. She noted that her agency disrupted a plot against a Manhattan synagogue and ensured the institution's safety when the threat was elevated.
