An Iraqi national arrested overseas faces terrorism-related charges in the United States for allegedly plotting more than a dozen attacks targeting Jews in Europe and North America, including two in Toronto, in support of Iran-backed terrorist organizations.
Alleged attacks in Toronto
The U.S. Justice Department claims in a complaint unsealed Friday in federal court in Manhattan that Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi is an operative of Kata'ib Hizballah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. and Canada. He was involved in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks targeting ambulances, schools and synagogues since the war on Iran began Feb. 28.
One of the synagogue attacks the 32-year-old allegedly coordinated was in Toronto, but the place of worship has not been specifically named. Al-Saadi also allegedly planned the attack that saw the U.S. consulate in Toronto shot up on March 10. There were people inside the University Ave. building at the time, but nobody was injured.
Other attacks across Europe and North America
Federal officials also claim Al-Saadi has posted videos of attacks on social media and called for “warriors of Islam” to engage in “jihad.” Al-Saadi is accused of being behind attacks such as one involving explosives at an American bank in Amsterdam, Netherlands on or about March 15; another that was an arson at a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia on or about April 12; and a stabbing that left two Jewish men – one a dual U.S.-British citizen – seriously injured in London, England, on or about April 29.
Attempt to hire undercover FBI agent
But it was his alleged attempts in April and May to hire someone he reportedly believed to be a Mexican cartel member, who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent, to carry out attacks at a prominent synagogue in New York City, and two Jewish institutions in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Ariz., for US$10,000 that led to his arrest.
Al-Saadi faces an assortment of related charges that have not yet been tested in court. He was not required to enter a plea at his first court appearance and he remains in custody – held in solitary confinement – awaiting his next court date.
Statements from U.S. officials
U.S. acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the charges against the accused “terrorist commander” demonstrate that “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.”
“As alleged in the complaint, Al-Saadi directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests and to kill Americans and Jews in the U.S. and abroad, and in doing so advance the terrorist goals of Kata'ib Hizballah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” he claimed in a statement released Friday.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the arrest as “a righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents, investigators, CIRG (Critical Incident Response Group) tactical units and interagency partners.”
Alleged ties to Qasem Soleimani
The complaint against Al-Saadi alleges he “worked closely with Qasem Soleimani,” the longtime IRGC-QF commander killed in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad International Airport in January 2020, as well as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the leader of Kata'ib Hizballah who was killed in the same airstrike.
The DOJ alleges Al-Saadi has urged on others to attack and kill Americans, including in retribution for Soleimani's and al-Muhandis's deaths, on social media.
“On or about July 2, 2020, for example, Al-Saadi published on one of his social media accounts the following image of the U.S. capitol in rubbles projected against the faces of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, with the text, 'Our revenge for the martyred leaders is ongoing. No negotiations with the occupier,'” the DOJ alleged in its statement.
His lawyer, Andrew Dalack, reportedly told media after the hearing that Al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey, handed over to U.S. authorities and transported to New York.
“Our position states that he's a political prisoner and a prisoner of war,” Dalack told reporters. “He's being punished for a perceived alleged connection with the late Qasem Soleimani.”
