Two Romanian men have been convicted over the stabbing of an Iranian-British journalist in London, with UK prosecutors alleging the attack was carried out on behalf of the Iranian state.
The pair were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday after being accused of seriously injuring journalist Pouria Zeraati, who works for the Persian-language broadcaster Iran International.
Zeraati, an Iranian-born British journalist, was attacked near his home in south-west London in March 2024. He was stabbed three times in the leg in what prosecutors described as a carefully planned assault.
During the trial, prosecutor Duncan Atkinson told jurors that the attack had been organised by a third party allegedly acting for the Iranian government. According to the prosecution, three men carried out surveillance before targeting the journalist.
Iran has strongly denied any involvement in the incident.
The two defendants, 21-year-old Nandito Badea and 25-year-old George Stana, both pleaded not guilty to charges of wounding with intent. However, the jury found them guilty following the trial.
A third suspect, David Andrei, was arrested in Romania in connection with the case but did not stand trial alongside the other two men.
The court heard that Iran International, a Saudi-funded television channel critical of the Iranian authorities, has faced repeated threats in recent years. The broadcaster has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Tehran.
Prosecutors also referred to posters reportedly displayed in Tehran in 2022 that featured photographs of several journalists, including Zeraati, under the heading Wanted: Dead or Alive.
The case is the latest in a series of investigations involving alleged attempts to target individuals linked to the broadcaster.
Last month, a Greek national was charged with allegedly carrying out surveillance on one of the station’s journalists. Earlier this year, three other men were charged over an alleged attempted arson attack on offices associated with the channel in north-west London.
Chief Superintendent Kris Wright of the Metropolitan Police said authorities had seen a growing trend of foreign states using proxies to carry out serious criminal activity in the UK.
He warned that such operations are designed not only to intimidate individuals but also to undermine public safety and democratic values.
Following the verdict, Volant Media, the parent company of Iran International, welcomed the convictions and said its journalists continue to face an ongoing campaign of intimidation.
The company added that the outcome of the case sends an important message that attacks against journalists and attempts to silence independent reporting will not go unchallenged.