Two Romanians Found Guilty of Stabbing Iran International Journalist in Wimbledon Attack
Two Romanian nationals, Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, have been found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following the stabbing of Pouria Zeraati, a journalist for the Persian-language channel Iran International. The attack, which occurred in Wimbledon on 29 March 2024, is believed by counter-terrorism detectives to be an act orchestrated by the Iranian regime to suppress opposition voices in the UK.
Zeraati, whose programmes are broadcast into Iran, suffered three stab wounds to his leg after being confronted near his home. He testified that Badea, after a demand for £3, produced a knife and repeatedly stabbed him while maintaining eye contact. Stana drove the getaway vehicle, a Mazda, from the scene. A third individual, David Andrei, allegedly held Zeraati during the attack; Andrei could not be extradited from Romania to stand trial.
Hours after the incident, all three men departed from Heathrow Airport to Switzerland. Investigations uncovered payments totalling over £80,000 into the Revolut account of Stana's sister, Florina, from Hemroc Ltd, a London-based construction company. Funds were subsequently transferred to accounts linked to Badea and Stana, with Florina also paying for their flights. Detectives have connected these financial transfers to Edgar Hakkopian, a British-Iranian dual national, who has not been charged.
Chief Superintendent Kris Wright of Counter Terrorism Policing stated that Zeraati was targeted due to his prominent role as a vocal critic of the Iranian regime. Wright characterised the attackers as 'proxies' – individuals hired for financial gain rather than ideological affiliation. He emphasised that such activities by overseas regimes seeking to exert influence in the UK would not be tolerated.
This attack follows earlier reconnaissance on Zeraati's street, including an incident a year prior where Stana and another man were found by police carrying a cricket bat and hockey stick in front of Zeraati's home. Counter-terrorism investigations into the broader conspiracy are ongoing, with a 40-year-old man arrested in January 2025 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and subsequently released on bail.
