The FBI desires to know why a man was near the New York City home of a well-known Iranian journalist and author whereas allegedly in possession of an unlawful military-style rifle loaded with 30 rounds.
The company is probing whether or not the suspect, federally charged with possession of a firearm that lacked a seen serial quantity, was there as half of a potential plot to neutralize or assassinate Masih Alinejad, two regulation enforcement sources mentioned.
Iranian intelligence plotted unsuccessfully to kidnap the Voice of America Persian Service host final 12 months, the FBI mentioned.
Alinejad mentioned at the time that she believed the authorities wished to close down her social media voice.
Iran’s Islamist rulers “not only wanted to make sure that I physically didn’t exist anymore, they also wanted to destroy my Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp channels,” she mentioned in a video message distributed by VOA.
Iran has denied the 2021 allegation, calling it “baseless.”
Sunday afternoon the journalist tweeted safety video that reveals a giant man on her porch attempting to open a door. Alinejad mentioned that that is the suspect arrested and charged with the gun violation, and that he had come to her Brooklyn home to kill her.
“My crime is giving voice to voiceless people,” she tweeted.
Khalid Mehdiyev of Yonkers, New York, was arrested Thursday near the girl’s residence by New York City police for allegedly driving on a suspended license, in line with the affidavit filed Friday alongside with a felony criticism.
Police initially stopped him for allegedly driving previous a cease signal with out absolutely stopping, the doc states. He was being held with out bond.
FBI brokers had been surveilling the man since a minimum of the earlier day and appeared to corroborate Alinejad’s declare that he had been on her porch and “attempted to open the front door,” FBI Special Agent Derek Kasse wrote in the affidavit.
The courtroom doc additionally claims that the car Mehdiyev was utilizing was issued a parking ticket near the journalist’s home July 23.
On Thursday, following that visitors cease, police mentioned they discovered a Chinese-made AK 47 clone in a suitcase in the again of the car, the place additionally they found 66 rounds of ammunition, most inside two magazines, one of which was hooked up to the rifle, the FBI alleged.
The affidavit provides that $1,100 in money was in the suitcase with the gun. The Subaru Forrester pushed by Mehdiyev had Illinois plates and, inside, plates from two different states, the FBI alleges.
In an interview with brokers after his arrest Mehdiyev mentioned that he had borrowed the car and that the case, gun and ammunition weren’t his, in line with the affidavit.
But he reversed course in subsequent interview, mentioned the gun was his, then requested for a lawyer, Kasse wrote.
It’s not clear if Mehdiyev retained counsel. The federal public defender’s workplace for the Brooklyn space didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Alinejad has been crucial of Iran’s management, notably concerning its document on ladies’s rights and human rights.
“Last year, the Islamic Republic, tried to kidnap me, now they want to kill me,” Alinejad tweeted Sunday.
An FBI spokeswoman confirmed Mehdiyev’s arrest, however the company declined to remark additional.
Dennis Romero contributed.