Iraqi National Charged with Plotting Attacks on U.S. Synagogue and Other Sites

An Iraqi national was charged Friday with conspiring to carry out attacks on a New York synagogue and other Jewish centers in the United States, federal prosecutors said. Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, faces charges including conspiracy to provide material support to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Kata'ib Hizballah.

Prosecutors allege he planned attacks in New York, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Al-Saadi appeared in federal court in Lower Manhattan on Friday and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Court documents show he met with Qasem Soleimani, the slain leader of the IRGC. Prosecutors said Al-Saadi is a commander for Kata'ib Hizballah and has been involved in planning attacks in Europe and Canada since March 9.

He allegedly posted propaganda videos about those incidents on social media.

" He also supplied images of Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale. Prosecutors said the two agreed on a price of $10,000 in cryptocurrency for the attack, and Al-Saadi sent $3,000 as a down payment. The attack was to occur on April 6. Al-Saadi was arrested in Turkey and turned over to the FBI, which brought him to the United States on Thursday. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said.