A man was arrested Thursday while carrying an assault rifle outside the Brooklyn home of Iranian dissident journalist Masih Alinejad, according to federal officials and media reports.
Alinejad, a fierce critic of the Iranian government, had previously been the target of a kidnapping plot allegedly orchestrated by Iranian government agents. The attempt, which was foiled by the FBI, came after Alinejad wrote publicly about the Iranian regime’s efforts to silence her through a “social media campaign calling for my kidnapping.”
On Thursday, police arrested Khalid Mehdiev, a 23-year-old Yonkers resident who had been “acting suspiciously” outside an unidentified residence for several days, according to a complaint. After NYPD officers pulled him over for allegedly running a red light, they found a suitcase in his back seat containing a loaded AK-47 and 66 rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said.
Although the court documents did not specifically name Alinejad, the Iranian journalist told the New York Times that she had been informed by authorities that the 23-year-old suspect was watching her house. She also told the Times that she had security footage showing the suspects outside her home. Law enforcement sources also told the Daily News that Mehdiyev targeted the journalist’s home.
At one point, prosecutors said, Mehdiyev exited his Subaru and attempted to open the front door of the residence in question.
According to the complaint, Mehdiev told prosecutors he could not afford the rent in Yonkers and was looking at the residence to see if he could rent a room. He initially denied knowing about the assault rifle before later admitting it was his, adding that he was in Brooklyn “because he was looking for someone,” prosecutors said.
Mehdiev faces a range of weapons charges, including possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, as well as failure to stop at a sign.
Inquiries to his attorney were not returned.
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