An Iraqi national arrested terror attacks suspect is facing federal charges in New York after U.S. Authorities linked him to a sprawling campaign of violence and attempted strikes across the United States, and Europe. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, 32, appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Friday following his transfer into U.S. Custody from overseas.
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged al-Saadi with six terrorism-related offenses, including conspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, conspiracy to bomb a place of public use, and the attempted destruction of property using fire or explosives. Federal prosecutors allege that al-Saadi operated as a commander for Kata’ib Hezbollah and as an operative for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), both of which are designated by the U.S. As terrorist organizations.
The scale of the alleged operation is significant, with the government attributing nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks to al-Saadi’s direction. The wave of violence has caused widespread alarm across Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, where Jewish community centers, synagogues, and charities have been targeted in recent weeks.
A Global Campaign of Targeted Violence
According to the criminal complaint, al-Saadi’s activities spanned multiple continents, often targeting institutions associated with American and Jewish interests. In March, he was allegedly involved in the firebombing of New York Mellon, an American bank located in Amsterdam. The Justice Department notes that a day after the attack, al-Saadi posted a propaganda video featuring maps of the target location and a “final warning” to the European Union to distance itself from American and Zionist interests.
The alleged violence extended to Eastern Europe and the UK. In April, al-Saadi is accused of orchestrating an arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia. In London, he is linked to the stabbing of two Jewish men, one of whom holds dual U.S.-British citizenship. These events led UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to characterize the current climate as a “crisis of antisemitism.”
Investigators believe these attacks were carried out under the guise of a previously unknown group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI). However, the Justice Department asserts that HAYI is merely a front designed to mask the goals of the IRGC and Hezbollah, allowing Tehran to engage in hybrid warfare to destabilize U.S. Allies.
Direct Links to Iranian Command
The prosecution’s case relies heavily on al-Saadi’s alleged proximity to high-ranking Iranian officials. The complaint includes photographs appearing to show al-Saadi with Qassem Suleimani, the former IRGC commander killed in a 2020 U.S. Airstrike. Al-Saadi was also reportedly close to Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah, who died alongside Suleimani.
Following the deaths of these leaders, al-Saadi allegedly pivoted toward active retaliation. In July 2020, he posted images of Suleimani and al-Muhandis on social media with the caption: “Our revenge for the martyred leaders is ongoing. No negotiations with the occupier.”
The government further alleges that al-Saadi attempted to mobilize global cells in early 2026. On March 7, he reportedly used a Snapchat account titled “Shadow soldiers” to activate operatives to support the IRGC and its proxies during a period of heightened conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
The U.S. Plot and Undercover Sting
The arrest follows a sophisticated law enforcement operation that disrupted plots to bring the violence to American soil. The Justice Department alleges that al-Saadi attempted to recruit an undercover law enforcement officer, identified as “UC-1,” to carry out attacks on Jewish institutions in New York, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale, Arizona.
On April 3, al-Saadi allegedly sent UC-1 photographs and maps of a prominent New York synagogue and discussed whether the target should be hit with an improvised explosive device or set on fire. This intelligence allowed the New York Police Department to secure the institution and neutralize the threat.
In a statement on Friday, Acting United States Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the resolve of U.S. Law enforcement, stating, “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.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch added that the case highlights the “global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies,” noting that her agency successfully disrupted the Manhattan plot in coordination with federal partners.
Timeline of Alleged Activity
| Date/Period | Alleged Event/Action | Location |
|---|---|---|
| July 2020 | Social media calls for revenge for Suleimani/al-Muhandis | Online |
| March [Year] | Firebombing of New York Mellon bank | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| April [Year] | Arson attack on a synagogue | Skopje, North Macedonia |
| March 7, 2026 | “Shadow soldiers” Snapchat activation message | Online |
| April 3 [Year] | Coordination of U.S. Targets with undercover officer | New York/LA/Arizona |
Beyond the successful strikes and thwarted plots, the government also accuses al-Saadi of attempting to organize an attack on a Bank of America branch in Paris. That operation reportedly involved recruiting petty criminals from the French underworld, a plot that senior French officials explicitly linked to Iranian influence.
The case against al-Saadi is expected to move forward in the Southern District of New York. The next scheduled step in the legal process will be a preliminary hearing to determine bail and the timeline for the presentation of evidence, including the encrypted communications and photographs cited in the criminal complaint.
What we have is a developing legal matter. We invite readers to share this story and join the conversation in the comments below.
