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Two Romanian men have been imprisoned for their involvement in a stabbing attack on a journalist in Wimbledon, carried out on behalf of the Iranian government to silence him. The victim, Pouria Zeraati, is a reporter for Iran International, a Persian-language channel known for its critical coverage of the Iranian regime. The incident occurred in March 2024 as Zeraati was returning to his car near his Wimbledon home, close to the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
In a London court, 25-year-old George Stana received a 12-year prison sentence, while 21-year-old Nandito Badea was sentenced to eight years after being found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The stabbing left Zeraati wounded with three stab wounds to his leg, requiring hospital treatment and stitches. Police described how the attack unfolded, noting that the assailants approached Zeraati as he left his residence. One man asked for money, after which another held him while the knife was wielded by a second attacker. The assailants fled on foot and escaped in a blue Mazda car, driven by Stana according to court proceedings.
The investigation revealed that Badea was the individual who stabbed Zeraati, while a third accomplice, David Andrei, restrained him during the attack. Following the assault, the three men left the UK, flying out from Heathrow to Geneva. While Badea and Stana were extradited back to the UK, Andrei remains in Romania. During sentencing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb remarked, “I am sure that this was an attack for – or for the benefit of – a foreign power.” She highlighted that the victim was specifically targeted, recalling prior threats and posters displayed in Tehran featuring Zeraati’s image alongside the words “Wanted. Dead or alive.” The judge was confident Stana was aware the attack served Iranian interests but expressed uncertainty about Badea’s knowledge.
Court documents further described how the assault was meticulously planned over at least a year, involving detailed surveillance of Zeraati’s Wimbledon residence. In a victim impact statement, Zeraati reported ongoing fear and anxiety resulting from the attack. He disclosed serious sleep disturbances, a persistent sense of being followed, and an inability to attend restaurants or go out alone without concern for his safety. Iran International condemned the attack as “appalling,” emphasizing the terror it caused not only the journalist and his family but also his colleagues. The broadcaster also spoke to the ongoing intimidation campaign faced by their journalists, both inside Iran—where relatives endure threats—and on British soil, expressing gratitude for police protection and the support of UK authorities.
Following the sentencing, Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle condemned the attack, labeling it “abhorrent” and highlighting the perpetrators’ flight from the UK before their capture. She confirmed the role of international cooperation in bringing the men back to face justice and reiterated the UK’s solemn commitment to holding Iran accountable for such actions. Defense lawyers for Badea and Stana argued that their clients were unaware that their actions served the Iranian government. Stana’s barrister claimed, “He did not know it and could not know it. He is not a sophisticated person. He is functionally illiterate. He is not aware of current affairs.” Similarly, Badea’s representative acknowledged the prosecution’s case but stressed that no evidence indicated Mr. Badea’s knowledge of the foreign power behind the attack.
Ch Supt Kris Wright, head of protective security operations at Counter Terrorism Policing London, affirmed the investigation’s conclusion that the stabbing was directed by the Iranian regime. He noted an alarming rise in the use of “proxies” by hostile foreign states conducting illegal operations in the UK. Wright issued a clear warning: anyone recruited by foreign powers or unknown online entities to carry out such acts will be detected and prosecuted to the full extent of the law
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