TWO MEN JAILED FOR KNIFE ATTACK ON IRAN INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST

Two Romanian nationals have been sentenced to a combined 20 years' imprisonment for stabbing journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his home in Wimbledon on 29 March 2024. George Stana, 25, received 12 years' imprisonment, whilst Nandito Badea, 21, was sentenced to eight years. Both men were convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, despite denying the charges. At the Old Bailey on Friday, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb concluded the attack was orchestrated "on behalf of the Iranian state".

Mr Zeraati, who works for Iran International, was stabbed three times in the thigh during the assault. The court heard that Badea and a third man, David Andrei, who remains in Romania, confronted Mr Zeraati whilst Stana waited nearby in a blue Mazda 3 getaway car. Prosecutors presented evidence that the men had flown to the UK expressly to carry out the attack, visiting Mr Zeraati's property on eight occasions across five dates prior to the incident. The judge noted that Mr Zeraati is a "well known critic of the regime" and had previously received threats, as had members of his family.

The prosecution asserted that both defendants knew, or ought reasonably to have known, the attack was instigated by a foreign power acting through third parties. Mr Zeraati stated 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 court was informed that Iran International has been designated a terrorist organisation by the Iranian state.