Iraqi Accused of Plotting 18 Attacks in Europe Pleads Not Guilty, Claims ‘Prisoner of War’ Status in Court
NEW YORK (AP) — An Iraqi national charged with plotting at least 18 attacks in Europe as part of a revenge campaign against the United States and Israel over their conflict with Iran entered a not guilty plea Monday in a Manhattan federal courtroom—then promptly declared himself a “prisoner of war” and accused U.S. rockets of killing civilians.
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 51, was eventually persuaded to take his seat only after two federal marshals stepped forward at the judge’s direction, with one placing a hand on his shoulder. The defendant did not appear to be attempting to disrupt proceedings, but his comments went well beyond a simple response to the indictment.
Prosecutors allege Al-Saadi conspired to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militant group, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—both designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations. Court documents say he served as a commander for Kata’ib Hizballah, a position his lawyer disputes.
“I’m not guilty in a war situation,” Al-Saadi said through an Arabic interpreter. “I’m a prisoner of war. I’m not a threat. Children and women are being killed by your rockets.”
U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon responded firmly: “The defendant will be seated please,” prompting the marshals to move closer. Once seated, Al-Saadi remained largely quiet for the rest of the hearing.
The case marks an unusual escalation: an alleged foreign militant commander being tried in U.S. civilian court for attacks planned across Europe, Canada, and the United States. The charges include a firebombing in Amsterdam, stabbings of Jewish men in London, and plots against synagogues and Jewish centers in New York, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale, Arizona.
According to court filings, Al-Saadi also directed two attacks in Canada—a synagogue assault and a shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto last March—and urged others to kill Americans and Jews. He allegedly posted about the attacks on Snapchat and Telegram and discussed them in calls recorded by an FBI informant.
His defense attorney, Andrew Dalack, told the judge that Al-Saadi worked for the Iraqi government, though he did not specify his role. Dalack said his client was held for two weeks in an underground Turkish prison before being handed over to the FBI. “I’m sure it was unpleasant, to say the least,” the judge acknowledged.
Dalack added that Al-Saadi has been held in solitary confinement at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn and hopes to contact an Iraqi diplomatic representative as well as his mother and siblings, though he expects authorities to impose strict communication limits.
When the charges were first announced last month, Dalack said Al-Saadi believed he was being persecuted because of his relationship with Qasem Soleimani, the IRGC commander killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. The case underscores the complex web of Iran-linked militias that continue to operate across borders, with prosecutors alleging Al-Saadi’s attacks were intended to avenge Soleimani’s death and signal retaliation for U.S.-Israeli actions against Iran.
The judge scheduled a detention hearing for later this week. Al-Saadi faces life in prison if convicted on the most serious conspiracy charges.