Two men have been sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison for stabbing journalist Pouria Zeraati in a "targeted" attack orchestrated on behalf of the Iranian regime. The incident, which occurred on March 29, 2024, saw the broadcasters leg stabbed multiple times outside his home in south London as he was en route to his studio.
The convicted attackers, David Andrei, 22, and Nandito Badea, 21, were part of a team that traveled from Romania and conducted surveillance on Zeraati’s residence for approximately a month. The prosecution, led by Duncan Atkinson KC, stated that the men, involved in construction and with ties to the criminal underworld, were motivated by financial gain and acted as "proxies" for the Iranian state.
Andrei apprehended Zeraati from behind, while Badea, a former professional footballer, inflicted the stab wounds. The pair fled the scene and entered a waiting vehicle driven by George Stana, 25. Stana was later jailed for 12 years. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb presiding over the case stated that there was "overwhelming" evidence of the attack being commissioned by Iran, noting that Stana "knew or ought to have known" his role in the regime's operation.
Badea received an eight-year sentence. The judge noted an inability to definitively prove Badea's awareness of acting for Iran. In a victim impact statement, Zeraati described experiencing fear and anxiety, necessitating multiple address changes and eventual relocation abroad to escape further threats. He has since installed a panic alarm and continues to take precautions to avoid recognition.
Legal representatives for the defendants argued they were "used as disposable tools" and "potential fall guys" by more sophisticated orchestrators. Stana's defense highlighted his difficult background, including poverty and domestic violence. He confessed to prior criminal activities such as shoplifting and facilitating prostitution.
Badea, hired as "muscle," had played for FC Astra Giurgiu and CS Blejoi in Romania before transitioning to construction work in England. The plot is believed to have been funded by Edgar Hakkopian, an Iranian-British businessman. Constantine Matache, operating a London construction company, reportedly hired the men.
Zeraati is a prominent presenter for Iran International, a television station that has been a frequent target of the Iranian government. In 2022, the station was designated a terrorist organization by Iran, with its employees deemed threats to national security. Posters of journalists, including Zeraati, were circulated in Tehran with the inscription "Wanted: dead or alive."
Counter Terrorism Policing London stated that this case reflects an increasing use of "proxies" by hostile foreign states. They emphasized their commitment to identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in such activities. MI5 has reportedly intercepted over 20 plots by Iran aimed at kidnapping or assassinating perceived enemies of the regime in the UK since 2022.