Two men convicted of stabbing an Iranian TV presenter in London “on the orders of Tehran”

A British court has found two Romanian nationals guilty of stabbing Iranian TV presenter Boria Zarate outside his home in Wimbledon, south London, in an attack that prosecutors described as a “deliberate and targeted act of violence” that took months of planning and monitoring.The victim, a journalist with Persian-language Radio Iran International, was stabbed three times in the leg in March 2024 while walking near his home. Sky News reported that he survived the attack and later returned to work.Surveillance, surveillance and escape planProsecutors told Woolwich Crown Court that the attackers conducted extensive reconnaissance of the apartment block in Zrate before the attack.The jury heard that Nandito Badi, 21, and George Stana, 25, were part of a coordinated team. Badie approached the journalist Hajjah before stabbing him, while Stana waited nearby in the getaway car.After the attack, the group fled the scene, dropped their clothes, and used a ride-hailing app to reach Heathrow Airport before leaving the UK.The allegation of “proxy agents” is linked to TehranThe prosecution claimed that the attack was not random, but was part of a broader intimidation campaign against dissident Iranian media professionals abroad, who have links to actors working on behalf of the Iranian state.

The court heard arguments that the attackers were effectively “agents” used in a wider strategy of harassment targeting journalists critical of Tehran. Iranian authorities denied any involvement.Trial details and disputed rolesPaddy and Stana denied the charges, but were found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A third suspect, David Andre, has also been named in the case but faces separate proceedings in Romania.Prosecutors said the three worked as a coordinated unit, although the defendants tried to blame each other during police interrogation.The court was also told that the group’s movements and financing involved multiple intermediaries, including accounts linked to businesses and individuals previously linked to criminal activity in the UK.Wider concerns about targeting of dissidentsThe case has added to growing concerns among Iranian journalists in the UK, many of whom have reported ongoing threats linked to their coverage of opposition politics.Security services have previously warned of several suspected Iran-linked plots targeting dissidents and minorities in Britain, raising fears of intimidation campaigns expanding beyond national borders.Verdict next monthThe convicted men are due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 3 July. Prosecutors noted that the judge may also consider whether the attack was carried out on behalf of a foreign country.