An Iraqi militia commander has been arrested on charges of involvement in planning more than 12 “terrorist” attacks in North America and Europe, attacks that judicial officials say were planned in response to war with Iran.
U.S. judicial officials say that Mohammad Bagher Saad Dawood Saeedi, 32, was planning attacks on a synagogue in New York and two Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale.
According to the criminal complaint, he faces six terrorism-related charges. His lawyer, however, says he has been targeted in a politically motivated prosecution.
According to U.S. officials, Saeedi is one of the commanders of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraq-based group that the United States considers a terrorist organization, and which has close ties to Iran.
Saeedi, an Iraqi citizen, was first arrested in Turkey and then handed over to the FBI and transferred to the United States.
Saeedi appeared in federal court in Manhattan and will remain in custody pending trial.
