Man sentenced to life for attempted knife attack at Israeli embassy in London
Abdullah Albadri, a Kuwaiti national and failed asylum seeker, has been sentenced to life in prison for attempting to enter the Israeli embassy in London armed with two knives. Reports note he arrived in the UK shortly before the incident and was found in possession of a "martyrdom note."
First reported 2 hours ago · latest update 1 hour ago
The 34-year-old was wearing a red and white traditional Arabic scarf wrapped around his head and sunglasses as he walked across London to the embassy.
He saluted in the direction of two nearby diplomatic protection officers before trying to scaled a fence outside the Israeli embassy, before being grabbed and tackled to the ground.
When he was searched, police found two 10cm-long blades and a handwritten copy of a verse titled "the benefit of martyrdom".
His trial heard how he told police: "I want to make a crime inside there. Why are you stopping me? Why are you stopping me from making crimes?"
During interview at a police station, he said he had wanted "to do something to stop the war".
The Old Bailey also heard evidence he may have acted in a way to force the nearby armed officers to kill him.
Prosecutor Catherine Pattison said Albadri "intended to do something that would have resulted in the sacrifice of his life".
She told the court people were leaving the embassy when he attempted to scale the fence who "would not have had any chance to defend themselves" if he had been able to carry out the attack.
Defence barrister Chris Henley said Albadri's plan "could never ever have succeeded", adding "there was no serious risk of any harm to anybody".
He said Albadri had acted in an "absurd, performative fashion" which was "deliberately designed to draw attention to himself".
Albadri had spent the morning "trying to get help" to access housing, his defence barrister told the court.
His trial previously heard he told officers "I wish you'd use that on me", and replied "I might be yeah" when asked if he was referring to a rifle.
On Monday, Mrs Justice Lambert KC sentenced Albadri to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years.
Citations · 3 reports from 3 outlets
Tap a citation to read it above, right here on T.A.M.
Man jailed for life over failed knife attack at Israeli embassy in London
Abdullah Albadri arrived in the UK on a small 16 days before trying to break into the embassy with two knives.
2 hours agoMan who planned attack on Israeli embassy in London jailed for at least 20 years
LONDON, Oct 5 - A Kuwaiti man who tried to enter Israel's embassy in London armed with two knives and carrying a \"martyrdom note\" was sentenced to life in prison on Monday with a minimum term of 20 years after being convicted of preparing an act of terrorism.
1 hour agoFailed asylum seeker who attempted knife attack on Israeli embassy jailed for life
A failed asylum seeker who tried to launch a knife attack on London's Israeli embassy has been jailed for life.
2 hours ago