Two men have been jailed for a combined 20 years after carrying out a “targeted” knife attack on a journalist in London, an assault a judge concluded was orchestrated “on behalf of the Iranian state”.
Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraati was left bleeding in the street after being stabbed three times outside his Wimbledon home on 29 March 2024. Romanian nationals Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, were both convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, despite denying the charges.
At the Old Bailey on Friday, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sentenced Stana to 12 years’ imprisonment, stating he “ought to have known” the “targeted and serious” attack was on behalf of Iran. Badea, who was involved in the conspiracy for a shorter period, received an eight-year sentence.
The judge declared: “I am sure that this was an attack carried out for and for the benefit of a foreign power.” She highlighted that Mr Zeraati was a “well known critic of the regime and he had previously been subjected to threats, as had members of his family.”
Prosecutors described the incident as “a planned attack preceded by reconnaissance, and which was ordered by a third party acting on behalf of the Iranian state”. The court heard that Badea and another man, David Andrei – who remains in Romania – “crowded” Mr Zeraati, with one of them stabbing him multiple times in the thigh. Stana waited in a blue Mazda 3 getaway car, which had been captured on CCTV during “hostile reconnaissance” prior to the assault.
Mr Zeraati told police in a victim impact statement that the incident had left him “scared and anxious” and forced him to relocate abroad “for fear of any reprisals”. The prosecution revealed that Badea and Mr Andrei had visited the property on eight occasions across five dates, having flown into the UK “expressly” for the attack, which they believed had been planned for over a year.
Rupert Kent, prosecuting, asserted: “These defendants knew, or at the very least ought reasonably to have known, the attack upon Mr Zeraati was instigated by a foreign power, we submit namely the Iranian regime, with which the defendants had an indirect relationship through third parties.” The court was informed that Iran International is “critical of the Iranian regime” and has been designated a terrorist organisation by the state. Mr Zeraati, a high-profile figure for the broadcaster, had even seen a billboard of his face in the Iranian capital bearing a “Wanted: Dead or Alive” message.
Jurors were told the attackers were seen laughing as they fled the scene, heading to Heathrow and flying to Geneva, Switzerland. Peter Caldwell KC, representing Stana, argued his client was “functionally illiterate” and “not aware of current affairs”, thus “could not have known” he was operating on behalf of Iran.
“Mr Stana was useful to others for the conduct that they had intended but he himself did not know the use to which he was being put,” Mr Caldwell stated. David Spens KC, for Badea, contended the court “cannot be sure” his client was the one who stabbed Mr Zeraati.
Judge Cheema-Grubb concluded: “Oppressive regimes tend to do all they can to suppress opposition, they cannot abide the serious scrutiny that fearless journalists provide.” Counter Terrorism Police have revealed they have foiled 20 plots in the UK linked to Iran since 2022.
A spokesman for Iran International said: “The attack on Pouria was appalling – terrifying for him and his wife, and shocking to his colleagues at Iran International.
“We are thankful and grateful to the police and the UK government for their work and expertise in bringing these men to justice.
“It would be good to think these sentences would act as a deterrence against further attacks.
“Our journalists are subject to an ongoing campaign of intimidation by the Islamic Republic of Iran – both in Iran itself where their relatives are routinely threatened and treated harshly as well as to themselves on British soil.”
He added: “We are more than thankful for the protection given us by the police and the UK authorities.”
