An Iraqi national has been charged in connection with a series of terrorism-related incidents across Europe and North America, including an alleged plot to assassinate Ivanka Trump. This plot is purportedly a retaliation for the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani by President Donald Trump.
The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, was apprehended in Turkey earlier this month. He has since been extradited to the United States, where he faces multiple charges related to terrorism, according to reports from various sources including the New York Post.
Details of the Allegation
While the criminal case presented by the Justice Department does not explicitly name Ivanka Trump, sources indicate that Al-Saadi expressed intentions of revenge against the Trump family following the 2020 drone strike that took Soleimani’s life in Baghdad. A former Iraqi embassy military attaché noted that Al-Saadi openly discussed the need to retaliate against Ivanka Trump, stating, “we need to kill Ivanka to burn down the house of Trump the way he burned down our house.
Threats and Surveillance
According to reports, Al-Saadi allegedly secured blueprints of Ivanka Trump’s residence in Florida and made threats directed towards her family online. One message, translated from Arabic, allegedly asserted that American properties, including those of political figures, would not provide protection from potential attacks. The post included a map of the gated community where Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, reside, along with a statement hinting at ongoing surveillance and intentions for retribution.
Affiliations and Previous Conduct
Federal prosecutors categorize Al-Saadi as a senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah, a militia group aligned with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He is accused of playing a role in coordinating or supporting nearly 20 terrorist attacks and attempted attacks that targeted Americans and Jewish sites in various locations across Europe and North America.
Some specific incidents mentioned in court filings include an arson attack on a Bank of New York Mellon office in Amsterdam and a shooting incident at the U.S. consulate in Toronto, alongside other assaults on synagogues and Jewish institutions in countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands.
Connections to Iranian Militia
Analysis by counterterrorism experts suggests that Al-Saadi had strong connections to high-ranking officials in Iranian-backed militia networks. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a senior fellow at the New Lines Institute and a previous victim of a kidnapping by Kata’ib Hizballah, asserted that Al-Saadi maintained extensive ties within these networks. His alleged relationships included companionship with Soleimani, who directed operations against a range of U.S. and allied interests until his death in January 2020.
Current Status
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi was captured in Turkey on May 15 and is currently held in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Legal proceedings regarding the federal case against him are ongoing.
This situation highlights the ongoing threats posed by extremist groups and the challenges in combating terrorism on an international scale. Al-Saadi’s case will likely draw significant attention as it unfolds in the coming months.