Close X
Saturday, November 16, 2024
ADVT 
National

Two Canadians charged in U.S. plot to kill Iranian defector

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Jan, 2024 11:21 AM
  • Two Canadians charged in U.S. plot to kill Iranian defector

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Canadians and an Iranian in a murder-for-hire plot targeting two people in Maryland. 

An indictment unsealed today says Naji Sharifi Zindashti, Damion Patrick John Ryan and Adam Richard Pearson conspired to kill the two unnamed people, one of whom was an Iranian defector.

Federal prosecutors say Zindashti, who lives in Iran, was part of a criminal network directed by Tehran that targets Iranian dissidents and activists.

The allegations, which have not been proven in court, say the plot was developed between December 2020 and March 2021 on an encrypted messaging service called SkyECC.

The indictment says Zindashti agreed to pay US$350,000 for the killings and Ryan hired Pearson, who was living illegally in the U.S. under an assumed name. 

The Justice Department says Pearson and Ryan, who is a full-patch member of the Hells Angels, are both in Canadian jails for unrelated offences.

MORE National ARTICLES

More blood needed as COVID-19 restrictions lift

More blood needed as COVID-19 restrictions lift
The need for blood products tailed off dramatically 16 months ago as the pandemic brought travel to a near standstill and all but the most critical surgeries were cancelled.

More blood needed as COVID-19 restrictions lift

Govt proposes stricter rules for online platforms

Govt proposes stricter rules for online platforms
Under the proposed rules, a digital safety commissioner would help enforce a new regime that requires social media companies to weed out child pornography, terrorist content, hate speech and other harmful posts.

Govt proposes stricter rules for online platforms

Powerful Alaska earthquake felt in B.C.

Powerful Alaska earthquake felt in B.C.
The U.S. Geological Survey says an 8.2 magnitude quake hit off the Alaska Peninsula roughly 800 kilometres southwest of Anchorage at about 9:15 p.m. Pacific time.

Powerful Alaska earthquake felt in B.C.

Alberta to end isolation rules as COVID cases rise

Alberta to end isolation rules as COVID cases rise
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, announced a two-phased approach Wednesday to eliminate the few remaining public health orders in the province.

Alberta to end isolation rules as COVID cases rise

COVID-19 restrictions back in one B.C. region

COVID-19 restrictions back in one B.C. region
Dr. Sue Pollock, the chief medical health officer for Interior Health, says starting at midnight, masks must be worn in all indoor public places in central Okanagan communities including Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, Lake Country and West Bank First Nations lands.

COVID-19 restrictions back in one B.C. region

185 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

185 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
81.8% (3,538,565) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 66.1% (2,857,809) have received their second dose.    

185 COVID19 cases for Wednesday