Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi Faces Terrorism Charges in US Federal Court
The US Department of Justice has arrested and charged Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, an Iraqi national, for his alleged involvement in nearly 20 terror attacks and attempted attacks across the United States and Europe.
The recent surge of violence attributed to al-Saadi has raised significant concerns in several European countries, particularly in the United Kingdom, where Jewish community centers, charities, synagogues, and other locations have been targeted in recent weeks.
The Department of Justice announced al-Saadi's arrest on Friday. He faces six terrorism-related charges linked to his purported role as an operative for the Iraqi paramilitary group Kata’ib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), both designated as terrorist organizations by the US government.
Al-Saadi was transferred into US custody overseas before being brought to the United States. He appeared in Manhattan federal court on Friday, where he was formally charged. The charges include 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.
Alleged Connections to High-Profile Militia Leaders
The Department of Justice's complaint alleges that al-Saadi worked closely with Qassem Suleimani, the former IRGC commander who was killed in a US airstrike in 2020. Photographs included in the complaint appear to show al-Saadi alongside Suleimani, who was known for establishing multiple networks of operatives and militias across the Middle East and beyond to conduct covert attacks.
Additionally, the department stated that al-Saadi was close to Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah, who was killed alongside Suleimani.
Following their deaths, al-Saadi allegedly called for attacks against Americans. In July 2020, he reportedly posted on social media an image featuring the faces of Suleimani and al-Muhandis with the text:
“Our revenge for the martyred leaders is ongoing. No negotiations with the occupier.”
Details of Alleged Terrorist Activities
The Department of Justice describes al-Saadi as a commander for Kata’ib Hezbollah and alleges that the 32-year-old was involved in a firebombing attack on the New York Mellon bank in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in March. A day after the attack, al-Saadi allegedly posted a propaganda video that “showed aspects of the attack planning, including maps of the location of where the attack would be,” according to the department.
The video also contained a message stating:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is the Final Warning[.] To all the peoples of the world, especially in the European Union, Immediately distance yourselves [] from all American and Zionist interests, facilities, and what is affiliated with them.”
Other attacks allegedly linked to al-Saadi include an arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia, in April, as well as the stabbing of two Jewish men, including a dual US-British citizen, in England. These incidents prompted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to describe a “crisis of antisemitism.”
Multiple claims of responsibility for these attacks were made by a previously unknown group named Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI).
At the time, analysts and security officials noted that although there was no direct evidence of Iran’s involvement, several factors strongly suggested the attacks were part of a hybrid warfare campaign launched by Tehran. The campaign aimed to destabilize US allies, warn them of potential consequences of increased involvement in the conflict, and harm Jewish communities perceived as supportive of Israel.
The Department of Justice’s criminal complaint states that HAYI is a front organization designed to advance the terrorist objectives of Kata’ib Hezbollah, Hezbollah, and the IRGC.
Recent Activities and Communications
On or about March 7, 2026, al-Saadi allegedly posted a message on a Snapchat account titled “Shadow soldiers,” intended to activate terrorist cells worldwide to conduct attacks supporting the IRGC and its proxies after the US and Israel began military actions in Iran in late February.
The complaint cites multiple conversations between al-Saadi and an FBI source and accuses him of involvement in a failed attack on a Bank of America branch in Paris. This operation reportedly involved petty criminals recruited from underworld circles in Paris and was linked explicitly to Iran by senior French officials.
The Department of Justice also alleges that al-Saadi acted on behalf of Kata’ib Hezbollah and the IRGC in attempts to carry out terrorist attacks within the United States, including targeting Jewish institutions in New York.
On April 3, he allegedly communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer, identified in the complaint as UC-1, whom he believed could execute the attacks.
The complaint states:
“That day, Al-Saadi texted UC-1 photographs and maps showing the exact location of a prominent Jewish synagogue located in New York … as well as two additional US-based Jewish institutions in Los Angeles, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona, respectively, and directed UC-1 to carry out terrorist attacks against those targets.”
“Al-Saadi also spoke on the phone with UC-1, and discussed with UC-1, with respect to the New York Synagogue, whether UC-1 would use an improvised explosive device or ‘set the place on fire.’”
Official Statements
In a statement released on Friday, acting United States Attorney General Todd Blanche said:
“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 also issued a statement:
“This case puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata’ib Hezbollah – foreign terrorist organizations that have repeatedly targeted Jewish communities across Europe and the United States since the war began.”
Tisch added that her agency, in coordination with partners, “disrupted a plot against a Manhattan synagogue.” She further noted that her agency and the synagogue’s leadership ensured the institution’s safety “when the threat was elevated.”
