Two men have been jailed in relation to a stabbing in south London in 2024, assessed as having been carried out on behalf of or for the benefit of the Iranian regime.

The investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London saw officers identify the suspects even after they fled the UK after the attack on an Iran International news presenter.

The attack took place on 29 March 2024 in Queensmere Road, Wimbledon. Two men approached the victim as he left his home and headed towards his car. One asked for money before the victim was held by one of the men and then stabbed multiple times in the leg by the second man. The attackers left the scene on foot.

The victim is a prominent news presenter on Iran International, a TV station that had been subject to threats from the Iranian regime and had been designated as a terrorist organisation by the regime. Because of the targeted nature of the attack and ongoing threats emanating from Iran towards the media organisation, the investigation was immediately taken on by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

Working with the Romanian authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service and National Crime Agency, extradition warrants for 21-year-old Nandito Badea and 25-year-old George Stana were obtained.

The pair were found guilty of wounding and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The judge agreed that this was a state-sponsored attack and concluded that the evidence overwhelmingly supported the conclusion that the attack was carried out in the interests of and on behalf of the Iranian state.

The judge ruled that the ‘foreign power condition’ under section 31 of the National Security Act was met in the case of Stana due to the extensive planning and his lengthy involvement in the plot, indicating that he knew, or at very least ought to have known of the connection to the Iranian state. The condition was not deemed to have been met in the case of Badea, who was not aware of the connection to Iran as the motivation behind the attack.

Stana has now been sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and Badea eight years.

Chief Superintendent Kris Wright, head of Protective Security Operations for Counter Terrorism Policing London said: “It was our case that this targeted and violent attack on a journalist was carried out on behalf of the Iranian regime, and the Judge agreed with that assessment of the evidence. Both men are facing a considerable time behind bars for their actions, and Stana having his sentence extended because he knew or ought to have known this attack was on behalf of Iran.

“Our recent casework shows an increasing use of so-called ‘proxies’ by hostile foreign states to conduct illegal activity and attacks in the UK. But this case, and others, show that we will not tolerate this and that we will work with our partners in the UK and internationally to identify those involved and bring them to justice.

“Our message to anyone being asked to carry out activity by foreign states or even unknown entities online is to think again, because you will be caught and you will face justice.”