UK jails two Romanians for Iran-backed stabbing of journalist
Two Romanian nationals, Nandito Badea and George Stana, were jailed at the Old Bailey for stabbing Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati of Iran International in Wimbledon in March 2024, an attack prosecutors said was carried out on behalf of the Iranian regime to silence him. Stana received 12 years and Badea 8, with a third man, David Andrei, remaining in Romania; the assault involved long-term planning and surveillance. The suspects fled to Geneva but were extradited back to the UK. Zeraati survived after multiple stab wounds and Iran International condemned the attack while authorities described it as a foreign-state intimidation attempt.
