- Surveillance at Iranian TV
- Claims innocence, set up
- Dovtaev on trial for terrorism
At the Old Bailey, Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, 31, is on trial for charges of attempting to acquire information that could be used for terrorist purposes. He asserts he was “set up” and “in awe” of the architecture in West London. However, prosecutors claim he was inspecting security at the Iranian TV station.
A man of Chechen descent, pursued on suspicion of “international terrorism” while conducting hostile reconnaissance against a dissident Iranian TV station in West London, has asserted that he was “set up.”
On February 11 of this year, Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, aged 31, is accused of conducting surveillance on Iran International. This occurred at the Chiswick Business Park in West London.
He explained why he had taken a video of the architecture on his phone in the area. He told the Old Bailey that he “simply liked” the buildings in the business park and was “awestruck” by it.
It was reported that his visit was the latest in a string of at least three trips carried out by “unidentified individuals,” which began in the summer of 2022 in response to threats issued by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence against the TV station.
CCTV footage revealed Dovtaev’s suspicious behaviour, prompting security to confront him and call armed cops.
“I was astounded by the architecture”
As defence testimony, Dovtaev said he had recorded a video of the business park’s centre on his phone.
He testified before the court, “You have these structures, and in the centre of it is a lake; I was astounded by the architecture; I simply adored it.”
According to Dovtaev, his brother Bashar, who was residing in Istanbul but using a Russian WhatsApp number, they dispatched him to Britain to investigate fraudsters’ theft of funds from his father. Bashar, Dovtaev claimed, had intended to accomplish this.
He informed the jury that his father, a truck driver, had been a Chechen opposition supporter. His father had fled to Austria in 2004 when the Russians abducted Dovtaev’s uncle.
The pandemic cost his father his job in 2022, and he invested 20,000 euros in Russian-speaking scammers, the court heard.
“Don’t miss out! Grab your free shares of Webull UK today!”
Also a journey to London in response to a “family matter” associated with “fraudsters.”
Through his father, Dovtaev also invested 3,000 euros with the fraudsters. He said the Austrian authorities encouraged the family to investigate the fraud.
He informed the court that Albi, who resides in Graz, Austria, is married to a nurse and has three children. And he formerly worked as an IT technician for Steinbauer IT.
Almost every European country has been on my itinerary except Scandinavia. “I travel with my family, alone, and with friends,” he continued via a German translator, despite having never been to the United Kingdom.
During a January visit to his brother in Istanbul, he was introduced to Shukhrat Sadikov, who “possessed numerous connections and could ultimately provide assistance with our mutual family predicament.”
Dovtaev said his brother called him when he returned to Austria to arrange a flight to London. However, he was still determininghe ticket had been purchased through an address in Baku, Azerbaijan.
He stated, “On Friday, following a long and arduous week at the office, my friends and I went out drinking for fun.”
Dovtaev explained that he could not sleep and was driven to Vienna Airport from Graz by his associate Idris. Upon arriving, he checked his email and received information regarding the business park from his brother.
“Simple explanation” for clothing modification
He said he bought a new SIM card at WH Smith at London Gatwick since his Austrian one was broken.
After that, he visited The Beehive Wetherspoon pub in the airport’s South Terminal, where he consumed three to four glasses of beer in fifty-two minutes while sending his companion Idris a photo of a pint of beer.
A taxi ride to West London cost him £150 in cash, with which he was reimbursed £10 in change.
Dovtaev exchanged a New Balance cap for a Chechen opposition cap as he exited the transport at 10:03 a.m., then covered his mouth with a snood before entering the business park at 10:14 a.m.
He told the court, “That can be explained straightforwardly. This represents the liberation of Chechnya. All Russian speakers know that the person who was cheated yesterday is here today to ask questions.
He would promptly reflect and realize his error; he defrauded a Chechen individual yesterday.
“I had been set up… duped in some way”
Dovtaev said he was “extremely surprised, I must say,” by the number of security guards outside the industrial park.
His brother returned his call on the Russian WhatsApp number as he entered the business park and circumnavigated the perimeter of Building 11, where the TV station was situated, searching for the entrance.
The security personnel approached him as he conversed with his brother via the Signal application.
“I explained to him that the building was under heavy surveillance and things were not looking as we had hoped,” Dovtaev testified in court.
He acknowledged uttering obscenities in Russian to his sibling over the phone, including the terms “b” and “m” to the security guards.
He expressed suspicion of “foul play,” adding, “I have frequently used such language.”
His initial intention was to enter the office building, locate individuals who spoke Russian, and confront them. However, he changed his mind and told the court, “I felt as though my plan had been subverted, deceived, and manipulated in some way, and I had no idea who was responsible for this.”
Dovtaev admitted to being a “international terrorist” and besieged by armed cops in a Starbucks.
The trial continues with his strong denial of any attempt to gather terrorism-related information.
