On Monday, a dishevelled Iraqi man in beige prison overalls was led into a Manhattan courtroom. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, 32, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges, declaring himself a prisoner of war. He faces life in prison for allegedly orchestrating a wave of attacks on Jewish communities across Europe.
The Campaign of Terror
Legal documents, expert investigations, and social media posts reveal how al-Saadi, based in Baghdad, allegedly ran a proxy campaign targeting Jewish sites. The attacks began in March 2026, shortly after the US-Israeli offensive against Iran. A message on Telegram and Snapchat gave permission to silent cells, followed by bombings in Liège, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and London. In total, 18 attacks occurred, including arson and stabbings, causing fear but no fatalities.
The Man Behind the Attacks
Al-Saadi was recruited in his early 20s into an Iran-backed Shia militia. He fought in Syria and Iraq, and had close ties to Qassem Soleimani, the IRGC Quds Force commander killed in a US drone strike in 2020. Al-Saadi traveled extensively in Europe, sourcing drones and components, and managed online propaganda channels.
Investigators believe the attacks were claimed by a previously unknown group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), which was actually al-Saadi operating alone. He used low-level recruits, often minors, recruited via social media for small payments. Many were arrested quickly, highlighting a strategy of using disposable agents to destabilize communities.
Al-Saadi was arrested in Istanbul in April 2026, after discussing attacks in the US with an FBI agent posing as a drug cartel member. Since his arrest, no further attacks have occurred. Analysts see the campaign as a success for Tehran, but note that al-Saadi was expendable.
