Three armed serial robbers in Tehran, known as the “Gang of Terror,” executed

According to the Judiciary’s Media Center, Amir Reza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami — key members of a violent and heavily armed gang that operated in Tehran and several other cities, calling themselves the “Gang of Terror” and known online as the “Gangsters” — were executed by hanging early this morning.

In May 2024, multiple similar cases of armed robbery were reported across Tehran, including in the neighborhoods of Janat Abad, Sardar Jangal Street, Simon Bolivar Street, and Punak.

Reports indicated that the robbers were young men who entered homes armed with military weapons, threatening and assaulting residents before stealing valuables.

According to one complainant, the family was resting at home when several masked men armed with Kalashnikov rifles and handguns broke in, pointed their weapons at the family members’ heads, and demanded money and gold.

In another case, a family of four — a husband, wife, eight-year-old daughter, and sixteen-year-old son — was watching television when several armed and masked men burst into the home, threatening them with weapons while searching for valuables to steal.

In one incident, the robbers forced a young girl to remove her earrings at gunpoint and then locked the family members in a room before escaping.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspects were professional armed robbers who used fake license plates on their getaway vehicles, fully covered their faces and hands, and typically carried out the robberies around 10 p.m. They were armed with Kalashnikov rifles and handguns, and after spreading fear and assaulting the victims, they would flee with stolen valuables. The gang was found to have committed 14 such robberies.

Due to the sensitivity and social impact of the case, the Tehran prosecutor issued a special order for the identification and arrest of the suspects.

Following extensive intelligence and police operations, the suspects were identified and arrested in the cities of Shahriar, Savojbolagh, and Khorramabad. Investigations later confirmed that the so-called “Gang of Terror” was also active in Alborz Province.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their crimes and numerous armed robberies. In face-to-face identifications, the victims also confirmed their identities.

Further investigation revealed that Sajjad Hatami had participated in 19 robberies and had prior records of burglary. He was involved in forging license plates and carried firearms in all robberies. Amir Reza Ghobadi participated in 19-armed home robberies, while Majid Hatami took part in 16.

The total value of the stolen goods across 19 robberies was estimated at approximately 14 billion tomans.

After completion of the investigation, the indictment was issued and referred to the court.

According to the indictment, the three defendants were charged with:

– Participation in 19 counts of Moharebeh by brandishing firearms against residents;

– Serial and armed group robberies at night using firearms and acts of intimidation;

– Kidnapping and unlawful detention of individuals; and

– Assault and intentional bodily harm.

The case was heard in the Tehran Revolutionary Court in the presence of the plaintiffs, defendants, and their lawyers. Based on the evidence, witness testimonies, police reports, and the defendants’ confessions, all three were convicted of Moharebeh and sentenced to death.

They were also ordered to return the stolen property or its monetary equivalent.

The defendants appealed the verdict, but the Supreme Court rejected their appeal and upheld the death sentences.

After completion of all legal procedures, the death sentences of Amir Reza Ghobadi, Majid Hatami, and Sajjad Hatami — whose armed robberies had spread fear and insecurity among citizens — were carried out early this morning.