Senior Kata'ib Hezbollah Commander Arrested in U.S. Following Terror Plot Disruption
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Federal authorities alleged in a criminal complaint unsealed Friday that Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi — described as a senior commander within Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi terrorist organization backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — spent months coordinating attacks against American, Israeli, and Jewish targets as part of a broader retaliation campaign launched following the military conflict with Iran that erupted in late February.
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Washington ExaminerSince the Iran war started, al Saadi “has directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, including by killing Americans and Jews, in retaliation for the Iranian Military Conflict and to further the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC,” the complaint alleges, adding that “Al-Saadi and his associates have planned, coordinated, and claimed responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe as well as two additional attacks in Canada.”
Associated PressAl-Saadi is also accused of involvement in two recent attacks in Canada: an attack on a synagogue and a shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in March. U.S. prosecutors said he directed and urged other people to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, including by killing Americans and Jews.
Washington TimesAl-Saadi is also accused of involvement in two recent attacks in Canada: an attack on a synagogue and a shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in March. U.S. prosecutors said he directed and urged other people to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, including by killing Americans and Jews.
The Daily WireFederal prosecutors charged Al-Saadi with six terrorism-related offenses for his activities, including conspiring to provide material support to Kataib Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, plotting attacks targeting Americans, conspiring to bomb places of public use, and attempted destruction of property using fire or explosives. Some of the charges carry potential prison sentences ranging from 15 years to life.
NBC NewsAl-Saadi is allegedly affiliated with a terror group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, also known as HAYI. The group has ties to the Iranian-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah and is believed to have directed attacks against Jewish institutions throughout Europe, according to the sources. Al-Saadi is said to have been involved in some of those attacks, including at least one in which an American was among the victims.
ABC NewsSince the onset of the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, Al-Saadi "has directed and urged others to attack U.S. and Israeli interests, including by killing Americans and Jews, in retaliation for the Iranian Military Conflict and to further the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC," the criminal complaint alleges.
New York TimesKataib Hezbollah Commander Accused of Planning Attacks on N.Y.C. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi is accused of directing and urging others to attack American and Israeli interests. Prosecutors say he is a leader of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia with ties to Iran.
New York PostMohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi orchestrated the attacks — including the firebombing of the Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam — as retaliation for the US and Israel’s ongoing war in Iran, a newly unsealed criminal complaint alleges.
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New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whose officers investigated Al-Saadi as part of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, said the case “puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata’ib Hizballah.”
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Associated PressNew York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whose officers investigated Al-Saadi as part of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, said the case “puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata’ib Hizballah.”
Breitbart“This case puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata’ib Hizballah,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Friday.
NBC News“This case puts into stark relief the global threats posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies like Kata’ib Hizballah—Foreign Terrorist Organizations that have repeatedly targeted Jewish communities across Europe and the United States since the war began,” she added.
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Al-Saadi smiled throughout his initial court appearance but did not speak. Through his lawyer, he called himself a political prisoner and a prisoner of war and said he is being persecuted by U.S. authorities for his relationship with Qasem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guard leader who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in 2020.
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Washington TimesAl-Saadi smiled throughout his initial court appearance but did not speak. Through his lawyer, he called himself a political prisoner and a prisoner of war and said the U.S. is persecuting him for his relationship with Qasem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guard leader who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020.
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His lawyer, Andrew Dalack, said Al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey and turned over to U.S. authorities. In his statement, Patel thanked U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, calling him “instrumental in bringing this successful mission home to the United States.”
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Associated PressHis lawyer, Andrew Dalack, said Al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey and turned over to U.S. authorities. In his statement, Patel thanked U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, calling him “instrumental in bringing this successful mission home to the United States.”
Breitbart“We are greatly appreciative of the work of our allies around the world,” Patel added, specifically thanking Ambassador Tom Barrack, whom he said helped lead the effort that ultimately brought Al-Saadi into American custody.
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They include the bombing of a Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam in mid-March and a thwarted bomb attack on a Bank of America office in Paris on March 28, the complaint said. Teenage suspects were previously arrested in both cases.
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Associated PressThey include the bombing of a Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam in mid-March and a thwarted bomb attack on a Bank of America office in Paris on March 28, the complaint said. Teenage suspects were previously arrested in both cases.
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The Amsterdam attack caused a fire and significant damage to the building, but no injuries, according to local media reports. It followed an explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam, which Al-Saadi celebrated on Snapchat with an Ashab al-Yamin-branded video showing the blast and the assailants fleeing on a motorcycle, the criminal complaint said.
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Associated PressThe Amsterdam attack caused a fire and significant damage to the building, but no injuries, according to local media reports. It followed an explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam, which Al-Saadi celebrated on Snapchat with an Ashab al-Yamin-branded video showing the blast and the assailants fleeing on a motorcycle, the criminal complaint said.
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“Working with our law enforcement partners, we disrupted a plan to attack a Manhattan synagogue, and in partnership with the synagogue’s leadership, ensured its security when the threat was elevated,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement.
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BreitbartShe added: “Working with our law enforcement partners, we disrupted a plan to attack a Manhattan synagogue.”
New York TimesPlot Was ‘Targeting Heart’ of New York’s Jewish Community, Tisch Says Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch spoke after prosecutors said they had arrested a man planning to attack a Manhattan synagogue.
6 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 Washington Times After paying the officer an initial installment of $3,000 for the synagogue attack, Al-Saadi encouraged him to strike as soon as possible, telling him in an April 6 text message: “I wanna see good news tonight … not tomorrow bro,” the complaint said.
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02 Reuters US accuses Iraqi man of helping Iran-backed militia's plans for attacks in US, Europe - Reuters US accuses Iraqi man of helping Iran-backed militia's plans for attacks in US, Europe Reuters
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03 Breitbart According to prosecutors, the alleged terror campaign intensified following the launch of Operation Epic Fury in late February.
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04 New York Times Iran-Backed Commander Accused of Plotting U.S. Attacks Also, the Eurovision finale. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
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05 NBC News 03:37 Supreme Court allows abortion pill to remain available by mail 03:19 At least two people dead after small plane crashes into house in Ohio
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06 The Daily Wire FBI Director Kash Patel said Al-Saadi and his associates were targeting Jewish institutions in multiple states.
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