NEW YORK, NY — Federal authorities arrested an Iraqi militia commander accused of orchestrating at least 18 terror attacks across Europe and plotting to bomb a Manhattan synagogue in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, 32, appeared in Manhattan federal court Friday on six terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations and conspiracy to bomb places of public use. Prosecutors allege al-Saadi served as a commander for Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Iraqi militia group, and worked closely with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to coordinate attacks targeting Jewish communities and Western interests across multiple countries since February.
The Justice Department complaint reveals al-Saadi maintained close ties with Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian military commander killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Kata’ib Hezbollah leader who died alongside Soleimani. Photographs in court documents show al-Saadi posing with Soleimani. After their deaths, al-Saadi allegedly posted on social media in July 2020: “Our revenge for the martyred leaders is ongoing. No negotiations with the occupier,” alongside an image of the U.S. Capitol in rubble. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday, “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.”
Federal prosecutors detailed a wave of attacks across Europe beginning March 9 with an explosive attack on a synagogue in Liège, Belgium. The violence escalated rapidly with an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands on March 13, followed by explosive attacks on a Jewish school and the Bank of New York Mellon building in Amsterdam on March 14 and 15. The Amsterdam bank attack caused significant fire damage but no injuries, according to local media reports. Additional incidents included arson attacks on Jewish charity organizations in London, a stabbing that seriously wounded two Jewish men in London on April 29, and attacks in Antwerp, Paris and Munich. Al-Saadi allegedly celebrated these attacks on Snapchat, posting propaganda videos showing blast footage and escape routes. The complaint states he also coordinated attacks in Canada, including a synagogue attack and a shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto in March.
The terror campaign operated under the previously unknown group name Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), which prosecutors say served as a front for Kata’ib Hezbollah operations. Al-Saadi posted a message on Snapchat titled “Shadow soldiers” on March 7, which prosecutors say “was intended to activate terrorist cells around the world to engage in attacks in support of the IRGC and its proxies” after the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began in late February. The complaint cites multiple conversations between al-Saadi and an FBI source, as well as his involvement in an abortive attack on a Bank of America branch in Paris, where French officials found a homemade bomb containing 650 grams of explosives that could have produced a large fireball. Teenage suspects were previously arrested in connection with both the Amsterdam and Paris incidents.
In April, al-Saadi began coordinating with an undercover law enforcement officer he believed was a Mexican cartel member capable of carrying out attacks in the United States. On April 3, he provided the agent with photographs and maps showing the exact location of a prominent Manhattan synagogue, along with two additional Jewish institutions in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona. During recorded phone calls, al-Saadi discussed whether the agent would use an improvised explosive device or “set the place on fire” at the New York synagogue. He offered $10,000 in cryptocurrency for simultaneous attacks on all three locations and paid an initial installment of $3,000 for the synagogue attack. On April 6, al-Saadi sent an urgent text message: “I wanna see good news tonight . . . not tomorrow bro.” When no attack materialized, he contacted the undercover agent the following morning asking why the operation had failed.
Al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey and transferred to U.S. custody before being transported to New York, according to his attorney Andrew Dalack. Flight records show a Justice Department aircraft often used for global extraditions flew to Turkey this week, returning via Morocco and landing in the New York City area late Thursday. FBI Director Kash Patel described al-Saadi as a “high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism” and thanked U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack for being “instrumental in bringing this successful mission home.” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said her agency, working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, “disrupted a plot against a Manhattan synagogue” and ensured the institution’s safety “when the threat was elevated.” Al-Saadi smiled throughout his court appearance but did not speak or enter a plea.
Defense attorney Dalack raised concerns about his client’s treatment, telling reporters al-Saadi is being held in solitary confinement at a federal jail in Brooklyn, which he called “both cruel and unnecessary.” Dalack described al-Saadi as “a political prisoner and a prisoner of war” being persecuted for his relationship with Soleimani, and said his client was detained and handed over to U.S. authorities “without any opportunity to challenge his arrest or transport.” The complaint alleges al-Saadi has been involved with Kata’ib Hezbollah since 2017 and maintains close ties with other designated terrorist leaders, including Esmail Qaani, Soleimani’s successor as IRGC commander, and Akram Abbas al-Kabi, secretary general of the Iran-backed militia Harakat al-Nujaba. Prosecutors said al-Saadi told the FBI informant he was willing to kill people in planned U.S. attacks.
If convicted on all charges, al-Saadi faces a potential life sentence in federal prison. He was ordered held without bail and will remain in custody pending trial, though his attorney indicated they may request bail at a future hearing. The case represents the first major prosecution connected to the wave of antisemitic attacks that have swept Europe since the Iran war began, with officials describing it as part of a broader campaign of hybrid warfare launched by Tehran to destabilize U.S. allies.
