Iraqi national pleads not guilty in 18 attacks in Europe, calling himself a 'prisoner of war'
Source: AP
By LARRY NEUMEISTER
Updated 5:16 PM CDT, June 1, 2026
NEW YORK (AP) — An Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 attacks in Europe in retaliation for the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran pleaded not guilty on Monday before calling himself a “prisoner of war” and telling a judge that children and women were being killed “by your rockets.”
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi finally was persuaded to sit down in Manhattan federal court as two marshals approached him at a judge’s urging. One marshal put his hand on his shoulder to guide him into his seat.
Al-Saadi did not appear to be trying to be disruptive as he commented beyond his response to the charges. The charges say he conspired to provide material support to Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militant group, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“I’m not guilty in a war situation,” Al-Saadi responded, before adding through an Arabic translator: “I’m a prisoner of war. I’m not a threat. Children and women are being killed by your rockets.”
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/attacks-europe-iran-war-retaliation-e75b72da013a259ac22448b206efac5c