WASHINGTON: One of two men arrested in Washington for posing as US federal security officials and cultivating access to the Secret Service, which protects President Joe Biden, claimed ties to Pakistani intelligence, a federal prosecutor told a judge Thursday, and had Ali had travelled to Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Qatar, and transited Doha multiple times.
Justice Department assistant attorney Joshua Rothstein asked a judge not to release Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 35, the men arrested Wednesday for posing as Department of Homeland Security investigators.
The men also stand accused of providing lucrative favors to members of the Secret Service, including one agent on the security detail of First Lady Jill Biden.
Rothstein told the court that in 2019, just months before the two began cultivating security professionals in their Washington apartment building, Ali had travelled to Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Qatar, and transited Doha multiple times.
In addition, Rothstein said, Ali "made claims to witnesses that he had connections to the ISI, which is the Pakistani intelligence service."
Pakistan has not responded to the case yet.
The Justice Department is treating the case as a criminal matter and not a national security issue. But the Secret Service suspended four agents over their involvement with the suspects.
"All personnel involved in this matter are on administrative leave and are restricted from accessing Secret Service facilities, equipment, and systems," the Secret Service said in a statement.
According to an affidavit filed with the court, Taherzadeh and Ali, both US citizens, lived in an apartment building in Washington where numerous federal security-related employees live.
They convinced some of those agents that they themselves were special Homeland Security investigators, displaying uniforms and documents in support of those claims.
Both were initially charged with one count of false impersonation of an officer of the United States, which could bring up to three years in prison.
But Rothstein told the court that the charge could be expanded to conspiracy, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.
The motives of the two men were unclear, but at one point they recruited a third person to work for them, assigning him "to conduct research on an individual that provided support to the Department of Defense and intelligence community."
Taherzadeh meanwhile provided several Secret Service and Homeland Security employees with rent-free units costing as much as $4,000 a month, according to the affidavit.
He also gave them iPhones, surveillance systems, a television, and law enforcement paraphernalia, according to the affidavit.
Taherzadeh offered a $2,000 assault rifle to the Secret Service agent who worked on the first lady's team, and did favors for the agent's wife, including lending her his car.
The affidavit said Taherzadeh and Ali appeared to control several units in the apartment complex, and that Taherzadeh had access to the building's entire security system.
Like many in law enforcement, the two drove large black GMC SUVs with emergency lights.
Taherzadeh carried handguns that are used by US federal law enforcement, and demonstrated to others that he had secure access to what appeared to be Homeland Security computer systems.
In the defendants' first court appearance, the prosecutor sought to prevent them from being granted bail. But neither had secured full legal representation and the judge put the decision off for a second hearing on Friday.
'Fake' US agent claimed ties to Pakistan intelligence, travelled to Turkey, Iran — prosecutor
https://arab.news/wk2ga
'Fake' US agent claimed ties to Pakistan intelligence, travelled to Turkey, Iran — prosecutor
- Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali were arrested Wednesday for posing as Homeland Security investigators
- The Justice Department is treating the case as a criminal matter and not a national security issue
Pakistan beefs up security in Karachi, Islamabad and Skardu as Khamenei protests kill 24
- At least 14 killed in northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, 10 in Karachi during Sunday’s clashes between protesters, law enforcers
- Police close off roads leading to key government buildings in Islamabad, US consulate in Karachi with army deployed in Skardu
ISLAMABAD/GILGIT: Authorities beefed up security by deploying additional police contingents and sealing off most roads leading to government buildings in Islamabad, Karachi and Skardu on Monday after violent protests in the aftermath of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing led to the deaths of at least 24 people in Pakistan.
At least 10 people were killed and 73 others sustained injuries on Sunday in clashes with law enforcement outside the US consulate in Karachi. Hundreds of protesters had gathered outside the consulate, with videos showing angry crowds armed with sticks as they smashed doors and windows.
In Islamabad, protesters entered the Red Zone which houses key government and diplomatic offices in the capital, prompting authorities to fire tear gas to disperse them. Similarly, people gathered outside the press club in the northwestern city of Peshawar to protest Khamenei’s killing as well.
Skardu in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region saw violent clashes on Sunday as well, as protesters set fire to and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations (UN) regional offices. Clashes with law enforcers caused the deaths of at least 14 people in the region, among them a soldier, a senior official told Arab News.
“Seven protesters were killed in Gilgit and seven in Skardu,” GB Caretaker Information Minister Ghulam Abbas confirmed. “One was soldier martyred in Skardu while the injured there were around 50.”
The minister said the station house officer and deputy superintendent of police in Skardu were also injured, along with two soldiers, while 10 properties were damaged in the clashes. He said police have registered complaints against the culprits for the violence.
“Schools are closed on Monday and courts’ activities will also be closed,” Abbas said. “A curfew has also been imposed for three days initially in Skardu and Gilgit cities from Mar. 2 to Mar. 4.”
The flare-up also prompted authorities to call in the army in Skardu under Article 245 of the Pakistani constitution, state media reported on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Traffic Police said entry into the Red Zone area will remain open for people only through the Margalla Road and another route through Marriott Hotel.
“All other entry points leading toward the Red Zone will remain closed,” it said in its advisory.
A spokesperson for the Karachi Traffic Police said in a press release that the MT Khan Road, from PIDC road to the Mai Kolachi Road railway crossing, will remain closed on Monday for general traffic due to security reasons.
The US consulate, which was the scene of clashes between protesters and police, is located on Mai Kolachi Road near MT Khan and PIDC.
“The general public is requested to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and traffic police to avoid inconvenience and difficulties,” the Karachi Traffic Police spokesperson said.
MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS
The violence on Sunday came hours after Iranian authorities confirmed Khamenei was killed in coordinated strikes carried out by the US and Israel, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East and triggering protests in several countries.
According to US officials, the operation targeted Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields. The US military said it suffered no casualties and reported minimal damage to its bases despite what it described as “hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks.”
Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and targeting US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. The Emirati government said its air defense systems intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles and drones, but debris from the interceptions caused material damage in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and at least one civilian, a Pakistani national, was killed. It issued rare emergency alerts urging residents to seek shelter, underscoring how the conflict has rippled far beyond Iran’s borders.
The Israeli military said dozens of Iranian missiles were fired toward Israeli territory, many of which were intercepted. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said a woman in the Tel Aviv area died after being wounded in a missile strike.
