Two individuals hired by Iran have been sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison for a knife attack on television journalist Pouria Zeraati. The attack, described as "targeted," occurred in broad daylight on a suburban south London street outside Zeraati's home.
Broadcaster Pouria Zeraati was stabbed three times in the leg as he was leaving his home to drive to his studio for his show. His attackers were part of a group that traveled from Romania and conducted surveillance for a month on a house near the Wimbledon tennis tournament venue. Prosecutors stated that the men, who had ties to the criminal underworld and worked in construction, were motivated by money and acted as "proxies" for the Iranian state.
David Andrei, 22, restrained Zeraati while Nandito Badea, 21, a former professional footballer, carried out the stabbing on March 29, 2024. The two men fled the scene, got into a waiting vehicle driven by George Stana, 25, and then abandoned their car, disposed of their clothing, and took a taxi to Heathrow Airport. Stana was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The judge noted that Stana "knew or ought to have known" he was acting on behalf of the Iranian regime.
Badea received an eight-year sentence, with the judge stating she could not be certain he was aware of his role in acting for Iran. In a victim impact statement, Zeraati reported being unable to walk unaided for weeks, requiring regular pain medication, and experiencing significant fear and anxiety. He has since relocated abroad and installed a panic alarm, continuing to take precautions to avoid recognition.
Defense attorneys argued that Stana was used as a "disposable tool" and Badea was a "potential fall guy." Stana's background included poverty and domestic abuse, and he claimed to be recruited for a robbery targeting Zeraati's watches. However, investigators believe Stana coordinated the plot, which was allegedly funded by his brother-in-law, Constantine Matache, who ran a London construction company. Edgar Hakkopian, an Iranian-British businessman, is also said to have funded the operation.
Zeraati was a presenter for Iran International, a television station that has been a target of the Iranian regime. In 2022, the station was designated a terrorist organization by Iran, and individuals associated with it were declared threats to national security. Posters featuring journalists, including Zeraati, with the heading "Wanted: dead or alive" appeared in Tehran around the same time. Zeraati's wife had also reportedly been threatened.
Counter Terrorism Policing London stated that this case exemplifies the increasing use of "proxies" by hostile foreign states to conduct illegal activities in the UK. MI5 has reportedly intercepted numerous plots by Iran to abduct or assassinate individuals perceived as enemies of the regime since 2022.