Two Romanian citizens have been convicted by a British court of stabbing Iranian TV presenter Pouria Zeraati outside her home in Wimbledon, south London, in what prosecutors said was a “deliberate, targeted act of violence” that involved months of planning and surveillance.The victim, a journalist for Persian-language broadcaster Iran International, was stabbed three times in the leg while walking near his residence in March 2024. He survived the attack and later returned to work, Sky News reported.Surveillance, Surveillance and Escape PlansProsecutors told Woolwich Crown Court that the attackers carried out extensive reconnaissance of Zelati’s residential area before the attack.The jury heard Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, were part of a co-ordination team. Badia pretended to approach the reporter and then stabbed him, while Stana waited nearby in a getaway car.After the attack, the group fled the scene, throwing away their clothes and using a ride-hailing app to reach Heathrow Airport before leaving the UK.‘Agent’ claims ties to TehranProsecutors claimed the attack was not random but part of a wider campaign of intimidation against dissident Iranian media personnel abroad, linked to actors operating on behalf of the Iranian state.The court heard arguments that the attackers were actually “agents” used in a wider harassment strategy targeting journalists critical of Tehran. Iranian authorities deny any involvement.Trial details and controversial rolesBadia and Steiner denied the charges but were found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A third suspect, David Andrei, is also named in the case but is facing separate proceedings in Romania.Prosecutors said the trio acted as a coordinated unit, although the defendants tried to pass the blame to each other during police interviews.The court also heard that the group’s movements and funding involved a number of intermediaries, including business-related accounts and individuals with previous links to UK criminal activity.Wider concerns about targeting dissidentsThe case adds to growing concerns among Iranian journalists in the UK, many of whom report receiving ongoing threats for covering opposition politics.Security agencies have previously warned of a number of suspected Iran-linked plots targeting British dissidents and minority groups, raising concerns that intimidation is reaching beyond national borders.Sentencing next monthThe convicted man will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on July 3. Prosecutors said a judge may further consider whether the attack was carried out on behalf of a foreign country.
