Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced on May 15 the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national accused of being a senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah and working with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Al-Saadi faces six terrorism-related charges for his alleged involvement in nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and the United States.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about threats from foreign terrorist organizations targeting Americans at home and abroad. Authorities say that Al-Saadi coordinated or directed multiple violent acts intended to harm U.S. citizens and interests.
“Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, a commander for the terrorist organization, Kata’ib Hizballah, faces serious charges for his role in numerous attacks against U.S. interests across the globe, including his efforts to kill on U.S. soil,” said Jay Clayton. “As alleged, for years, Al-Saadi committed himself to furthering the terrorist goals of Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC… More recently, Al-Saadi attempted to carry out attacks in the United States, including in New York City.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “Thanks to the dedication and vigilance of law enforcement, this alleged terrorist commander is now in U.S. custody… These charges show American law enforcement will never let such evil go unchecked.” Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg added: “As alleged, Al-Saadi coordinated a wave of attacks across Europe… The complaint further alleges that Al-Saadi discussed attacking locations in New York, California, and Arizona.”
According to court documents unsealed today in Manhattan federal court before Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, authorities allege that over recent months Al-Saadi directed or claimed responsibility for at least 18 attacks throughout Europe as well as two additional incidents in Canada under a component group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya. Some targets included Jewish institutions; one attack involved arson at a synagogue in North Macedonia while another saw two Jewish men stabbed in London.
Officials also allege that earlier this year he tried to coordinate potential assaults on Jewish institutions within New York City as well as sites in Los Angeles and Scottsdale by providing detailed maps or discussing possible methods with someone he believed could carry out such acts.
Al-Saadi is charged with conspiring to provide material support to both Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—each designated by U.S. authorities as foreign terrorist organizations—as well as several counts related to attempting or conspiring murder or bombing public places.
Clayton praised investigative work by agencies including FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force along with support from other federal departments like Customs & Border Protection and State Department officials Thomas Barrack and Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “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.”
The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
