Iran-backed terror suspect accused by US of role in London synagogue petrol bombing and embassy drone plot
He was allegedly responsible for the media for Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, which has claimed responsibility for several attacks against Israeli and Iranian targets in the UK in recent months
A man has been charged by the United States for his alleged involvement in attacks and attempted attacks throughout Europe and America.
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Mohammad Al-Saadi, a dual Iraqi-Iranian national, was arrested on May 15 as an alleged operative of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which says he was involved in nearly 20 attacks across the world.
The DOJ indictment, published on May 28, says that Al-Saadi told US officials he was a leader of "the resistance" and was in charge of media and psychological warfare for groups including the IRGC and Kata’ib Hizballah, Hizballah, and the Houthis.
He was allegedly responsible for the media for Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which has claimed responsibility for several attacks against Israeli and Iranian targets in the UK in recent months.
Al-Saadi told officials that the propaganda videos shared online by the group of attacks, such as the petrol bombing of a Finchley Road synagogue and an attempted attack on the Israeli Embassy in London, were part of the “psychological warfare” that “the resistance” was designed to instil fear and terror in civilians.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “As alleged in this indictment, Al-Saadi has been directly involved in terrorist operations and military decisions to attack US and Israeli interests across the world and conspired with others to plan deadly attacks on American soil.
“Now that he has been removed from his perch as an alleged commander of Kata’ib Hizballah with close ties to the Iranian regime and its proxies around the world, we look forward to vigorously prosecuting him under American law in an American courtroom.”
Prosecutors claim his social media accounts and phone contained evidence of planning, execution, and promotion of the European attacks.
The indictment alleges that Al-Saadi FaceTimed with people as they carried out some of the attacks, he filmed those attacks as they were being conducted, and then helped to create and disseminate propaganda videos of the attacks.
An example provided by the DOJ of Al-Saadi's involvement refers to an incident on or around April 14, 2026 in which he received videos of two men dressed in hazmat suits, with the HAYI logo taped to each suit, and a drone that appears to be carrying two vials of white powder attached to it.
This video is connected to claims by the group that its members had attacked the Israeli Embassy in London using drones loaded with "dangerous carcinogenic and radioactive materials".
The claims by the group led to Kensington Gardens being closed off to the public as officers investigated the incident.
Several people have been arrested in connection with the numerous attacks in the UK.
Al-Saadi's phone also allegedly contains evidence that attacks in Europe were carried out at the behest of Kata’ib Hizballah and related terrorist groups - the DOJ claims HAYI was a front for them.
FBI Director Kash Patel said: "The FBI’s successful FTOC of Mohammad Al-Saadi, another high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism, is just the latest success in this administration’s historic work to bring terrorists to justice.
“This was a righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents, investigators, CIRG tactical units, interagency partners and our allies around the world who delivered yet again.
"This FBI will use our vast resources to detect and stop acts of terrorism and will work with our Justice Department partners to make sure those who engage in such actions are held accountable.”
Al-Saadi has been charged with:
- conspiring to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah, a foreign terrorist organisation, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison;
- conspiring to provide material support to the IRGC, a foreign terrorist organisation, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison;
- conspiring to provide material support for acts of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison;
- providing material support for acts of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison;
- attempted acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison;
- conspiring to bomb a place of public use, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison;
- attempted destruction of property by means of fire or explosive, which carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison;
- financing terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison
LBC has contacted the Met Police for comment on this story.