An Iraqi national charged in america with terrorism offences has been linked by prosecutors to the March shooting outside the U.S. consulate in downtown Toronto back in March.
U.S. prosecutors allege Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi and others were behind the Toronto attack, in addition to a second attack targeting a synagogue in Canada, while also coordinating nearly 20 attacks across Europe tied to an Iranian-backed militant network.
The incident, which was deemed by Canadian authorities as a national security case, sparked heavy investigations by the RCMP.
A release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice reveals that Al-Saadi appeared in a Recent York courtroom Friday after being charged with six terrorism-related offences tied to his alleged role as a senior member of Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In keeping with a newly-unsealed U.S. criminal criticism, prosecutors allege Al-Saadi and others “planned, coordinated, and claimed responsibility” for at the very least 18 terrorist attacks across Europe, together with “two additional attacks in Canada.”
The criticism specifically references a March 10, 2026, shooting on the U.S. consulate in Toronto, where police said two suspects exited a white Honda CR-V, fired shots on the constructing and fled the scene.
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Toronto police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said shell casings and damage were found on the downtown constructing, though no person was injured.
Within the U.S. filing, FBI investigators allege Al-Saadi discussed the Canadian attacks during recorded calls with a confidential source.
In keeping with the criticism, Al-Saadi allegedly confirmed that “our people” were behind attacks in Canada targeting “the consulate and the Knesset,” which investigators say referred to the Toronto consulate shooting and an attack on a synagogue.
The filing also alleges Al-Saadi told the source he was “running multiple teams” and sought help carrying out additional attacks in Canada and america.
The criticism alleges Al-Saadi later explained how operatives carrying out attacks in North America could possibly be paid.
“In Europe, we’ve our guys; even in America, for instance the opposite day, and in Canada we’ve our guys,” Al-Saadi allegedly said during an April 1 recorded call cited within the filing.
The criticism details attacks involving explosives, arson and stabbings in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the UK, including attacks targeting synagogues, Jewish schools, embassies and financial institutions
Outside court Friday, defence lawyer Andrew Dallek argued his client is being subjected to a “political prosecution.”
“We desired to relate to the court that it’s very necessary for him that the court is aware that he’s essentially being subjected to a political prosecution and that he’s a prisoner of war and ought to be treated as such,” Dallek told reporters.
Dallek also questioned the circumstances surrounding Al-Saadi’s arrest in Turkey and transfer into U.S. custody, saying it appeared his client had been delivered to america “with none sort of extradition proceeding overseas.”
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