U.S. Arrests Iraqi National for Alleged Terror Plots in U.S. and Europe
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kata'ib Hizballah, has been arrested and charged with directing nearly 20 terror attacks across Europe and the United States.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a 32-year-old Iraqi national and senior member of the Iran-backed militant group Kata'ib Hizballah, has been arrested and charged with orchestrating nearly 20 terror attacks across Europe and the United States.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Al-Saadi coordinated attacks targeting Jewish institutions and U.S. interests, including a planned bombing of a synagogue in New York City. He allegedly offered an undercover FBI agent $10,000 in cryptocurrency to carry out the attack.
Al-Saadi was arrested overseas and extradited to the United States, where he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court. He faces six counts of terrorism-related offenses and has been ordered detained pending trial.
FBI Director Kash Patel described Al-Saadi as a "high-value target" linked to mass global terrorism. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch highlighted the broader threat from Iran and its proxies.
Al-Saadi's arrest underscores ongoing concerns about international terrorism and the activities of Iran-backed groups targeting U.S. and allied interests.