Two men arrested at Heathrow in connection to journalist stabbing

Two men have been arrested and charged after an Iranian journalist was stabbed outside his home earlier this year.

Pouria Zeraati, a presenter for Iran International, was stabbed in Queensmere Road, Wimbledon, at around 2.50pm on March 29.

Romanian nationals Nandito Badea, 19, and George Stana, 23, were arrested at Heathrow Airport yesterday. 

The pair were taken into police custody by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, charged with wounding and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Badea and Stana were previously detained by Romanian authorities on December 4. 

They were returned to the UK from Romania by specialist National Extradition Unit officers  from the National Crime Agency.

Acting Commander Helen Flanagan, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said:  “This has been a long-running investigation and I am pleased we have reached a point where two men have now been charged and will face prosecution here in the UK. 

“I would like to thank our Romanian counterparts for their cooperation on this matter, as well as colleagues from the CPS and NCA who have helped us to reach this point.

“Now that criminal proceedings are fully active here in the UK, I continue to ask people not speculate about the case or motivation so that the criminal justice process can ran its course.”

Mr Zeraati is the host of the Last Word on Iran International. Set up in 2017, the Persian language channel broadcasts from London but is aimed at Iranian viewers. 

In February last year, the media group temporarily relocated to Washington DC because of threats to its journalists, and returned to London in September.

Pictured top: Pouria Zeraati (Picture: Iran International)