Suspect in Liège Synagogue Attack and European Terror Wave Arrested in US

An Iraqi national and senior commander of the Iran-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah has been arrested in Turkey and extradited to the United States, where he faces six terrorism-related charges for orchestrating a wave of attacks on Jewish institutions across Europe and plotting further violence on American soil. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, 32, appeared in Manhattan federal court on Friday and was ordered held without bail.

The Arrest and Charges

According to the US Department of Justice, al-Saadi is accused of directing at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe and two in Canada, all carried out under the banner of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), which prosecutors say is a front organization for Kata’ib Hezbollah. The charges include conspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, conspiracy to bomb a place of public use, and attempted destruction of property by fire or explosives.

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement: “Thanks to the dedication and vigilance of law enforcement, this alleged terrorist commander is now in US custody. These charges show American law enforcement will never let such evil go unchecked and will use all tools to disrupt and dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and their leaders.”

The First Attack: Liège Synagogue

The first attack in the campaign occurred on March 9, 2026, when explosives were used against a synagogue in Liège, Belgium. As VRT NWS reported, no injuries were reported but the building sustained significant material damage. This attack marked the beginning of a coordinated wave of violence that would spread across multiple European countries over the following weeks.

Four days later, on March 13, an arson attack targeted a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The next day, a Jewish school in Amsterdam was attacked with explosives, followed by an explosive attack on the Bank of New York Mellon in Amsterdam on March 15. In less than one week, four separate incidents were linked to al-Saadi’s network.

A Continent-Wide Campaign

The attacks continued through March and April, spreading across Europe. According to CNN, which was first to report the link between HAYI and Kata’ib Hezbollah, the violence included an arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje, North Macedonia, on April 12, followed by arson attacks on Jewish charity organizations and ambulances in London on April 17 and 18. On April 29, two Jewish men were stabbed and seriously wounded in London, including a dual US-British citizen.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the situation as a “crisis of antisemitism” following the London attacks, as The Guardian reported.

US Targets and Undercover Operation

Prosecutors allege that al-Saadi also attempted to coordinate attacks within the United States. On April 3, he communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer whom he believed was a Mexican cartel member, providing photographs and maps of a prominent Jewish synagogue in New York City, as well as Jewish institutions in Los Angeles, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

According to the criminal complaint, al-Saadi discussed with the undercover agent whether to use an improvised explosive device or “set the place on fire” for the New York synagogue target. He agreed to pay $10,000 for the attack and insisted it be recorded. The attack was scheduled for April 6 but never materialized. When the attack did not occur, al-Saadi texted the agent the next morning asking why.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that law enforcement “disrupted a plot against a Manhattan synagogue” and worked with the synagogue’s leadership to ensure its security.

The Geopolitical Context

The attacks are directly linked to the US-Israel war in Iran that began in late February 2026. According to the criminal complaint, on or about March 7, al-Saadi posted a message on Snapchat titled “Shadow soldiers” intended to activate terrorist cells around the world to engage in attacks in support of the IRGC and its proxies following the outbreak of war.

Al-Saadi has close ties to Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Quds Force who was killed in a US drone strike in 2020, as well as to Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the former leader of Kata’ib Hezbollah who was killed alongside Soleimani. Photographs included in the criminal complaint show al-Saadi with Soleimani at a military facility. In July 2020, al-Saadi posted an image of the US Capitol in rubble with the faces of Soleimani and al-Muhandis, accompanied by the text: “Our revenge for the martyred leaders is ongoing. No negotiations with the occupier.”

Defense Response

Al-Saadi’s attorney, Andrew J. Dalack, has argued that his client is a “political prisoner” and a “prisoner of war,” as BBC News reported. Dalack raised concerns about al-Saadi being held in solitary confinement, describing it as “both cruel and unnecessary.” He also noted that al-Saadi was handed over to US authorities without an opportunity to contest the legality of his detention or transport.

Analysis and Implications

The arrest represents a significant intelligence and law enforcement success, disrupting what appears to have been an active and expanding terrorist network. It confirms the link between the previously unknown HAYI group and established Iran-backed militias, revealing a sophisticated operation using front organizations to claim attacks while maintaining plausible deniability.

Security analysts and officials have described this as part of Iran’s “hybrid warfare” strategy, designed to destabilize US allies and warn them of the costs of involvement in the conflict, while simultaneously targeting Jewish communities perceived as supportive of Israel. The coordinated nature of the attacks across multiple countries highlights the challenge of transnational terrorism and the role of online radicalization and coordination.

What to Watch For

As legal proceedings unfold in New York, several key questions remain: Are other operatives from al-Saadi’s network still at large? What was the full extent of Iranian government knowledge and approval of these attacks? And will the US seek to extradite other suspects connected to this network? The case is likely to provide further insights into the evolving threat posed by Iran-backed proxy forces operating in Western countries.

Al-Saadi did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance. His next court date has not yet been scheduled.