Iraqi defendant charged with 20 terrorist attacks in Europe and Canada pleads not guilty

Al Saadi appeared in federal court in Manhattan and pleaded not guilty. He is charged with planning attacks and material support to Kata'ib Hezbollah and the IRGC.

Iraqi pleads not guilty to charges of planning attacks in Europe and Canada

An Iraqi citizen appeared in federal court in Manhattan, charged with planning at least 20 terrorist attacks — 18 in European countries and two in Canada. The defendant pleaded not guilty and described himself as a "prisoner of war".

According to Politis, the defendant is identified as Mohammad Baqer Saad Davoud Al Saadi. The American Department of Justice, which brought the indictment against him, describes him as commander of Kata'ib Hezbollah, a Shia militant organisation supported by Iran.

The charges include conspiracy to provide material support to both Kata'ib Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran. Both organisations have been designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organisations.

Al Saadi was arrested on 15 May abroad and was subsequently transferred to New York. The court ordered his detention pending trial.

American prosecutors also allege that the defendant worked closely with Qasem Soleimani, the long-serving commander of the IRGC, who was killed in a United States air strike on 3 January 2020.

Source: Politis