Federal authorities in the United States have arrested and charged an Iraqi citizen accused of organizing an international terrorism campaign that allegedly targeted Jewish and American institutions across Europe and North America, according to a report Friday by CNN.

Prosecutors say the suspect, identified as Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, was connected to Iran-backed terrorist organizations and helped coordinate numerous planned attacks intended to pressure the West over the ongoing war involving Iran.

According to the federal criminal complaint, investigators believe al-Saadi was involved in planning at least 18 separate terror operations throughout Europe, in addition to alleged plots aimed at targets in the United States and Canada.

Court filings state that al-Saadi acted on behalf of organizations aligned with Iran and pursued antisemitic and anti-American attacks designed to destabilize international security.

The complaint alleges that al-Saadi “directed and urged others to attack US and Israeli interests,” in retaliation for the war and to “further the terrorist goals of Kataib Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and his associated,” according to the complaint.

US officials have not publicly disclosed the precise details surrounding the suspect’s capture. However, flight records reportedly show that a Department of Justice aircraft commonly used for sensitive extradition missions traveled to Turkey earlier this week before returning through Morocco and landing in the New York area late Thursday night.

Al-Saadi has now been charged with multiple serious federal offenses, including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to support acts of terrorism, and conspiracy to bomb a public location.

Investigators said one of the alleged plots involved plans to bomb a major Jewish synagogue in New York City. According to prosecutors, al-Saadi attempted to hire an individual he believed to be affiliated with a Mexican drug cartel to carry out the attack. Authorities say the supposed cartel operative was actually an undercover federal agent.

The complaint alleges that al-Saadi agreed to transfer $10,000 to finance the synagogue bombing and insisted that the attack be filmed for propaganda purposes. Prosecutors say he instructed that the bombing take place on April 6 and later sent a message demanding answers after the explosion did not occur.

In addition to the alleged network of planned attacks in Europe, prosecutors claim al-Saadi was involved in organizing two separate terror operations inside Canada and was also working to establish additional terrorist cells capable of launching future attacks within the United States.

{Matzav.com}