Man arrested climbing into Israeli embassy had arrived on small boat twice, court hears
Man arrested climbing into Israeli embassy had arrived on small boat twice, court hears
A 34-year-old man detained while attempting to breach the Israeli embassy in London with two knives was previously seen entering the UK via a small vessel from France twice, according to the prosecution. Abdullah Albadri, currently on trial at the Old Bailey, faces charges of preparing for terrorist acts and carrying weapons. He denies the allegations, claiming his actions were motivated by personal reasons.
Arrival and Background
Albadri first set foot in the UK on 5 August 2021, but departed by November 2023. He returned in April of last year, again using a small boat from France. During his stay, he was temporarily housed at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Basingstoke, Hampshire. In a recovered email, he referred to himself as a “human rights activist” who had been detained in Kuwait. He stated his family’s safety was under threat, prompting his pursuit of asylum.
Prosecution’s Evidence
Catherine Pattison, representing the prosecution, informed the jury that during his arrest, officers found not only the two knives but also several documents. One of these was described as a martyrdom note—a message from someone willing to die or anticipate death for a cause tied to religion, politics, or ideology. Albadri had shared a photo of the note with his mother through WhatsApp, the prosecution said. The document concluded with the line: “I will not go back on my decision to go in the cause of Allah, to come out for His sake and to stand up to the enemies in order to support the religion of Allah Almighty.”
“This is the note that would have been found with his dead body,” Pattison stated. “A note written by him. A note written by him at a time when he intended to die, or expected to be killed in his pursuit of a specific religious, political or ideological cause.”
Earlier that day, Albadri had been researching religious laws related to suicide on his phone, the prosecution added. He was also in contact with organizations aiding asylum seekers, such as Migrant Help and Care4Calais, as he worked on his application. However, Pattison emphasized that his motives extended beyond this. “His intention was not just focused on his application,” she said. “He had other matters on his mind—matters far more sinister.”
Arrest Sequence
On 28 April, Albadri approached the Israeli embassy grounds, where he was spotted by two armed diplomatic protection officers. The officers noted he was wearing sunglasses and a red-and-white shemagh, a traditional scarf that obscured his face. At 15:30, he handed a knife to his mother via WhatsApp and began walking toward the embassy. Pattison recounted that he did not hesitate. “As soon as he arrived outside the embassy, he jumped onto the fence and tried to climb over it,” she said. The officers had to intervene to prevent him from entering the premises.
“Mr Albadri did not hang around or hesitate in any way,” Pattison said. “Had it not been for the police there, he would have got over it.”
During the encounter, Albadri declared, “I got my weapons” and gestured to his pockets. He questioned why the officers were stopping him, stating, “I wanna make a crime inside there, why are you stopping me? Why are you stopping from making crimes?” Moments later, he added, “Why didn’t you let me in? I didn’t do what I wanted to do.” The exchange was recorded on body-worn video cameras.
After being detained at Hammersmith Police Station, a sergeant asked Albadri, “When you leave custody, you’re not going to hurt yourself, are you?” Albadri responded, “I’m gonna go back yeah,” before clarifying, “The embassy.” The prosecution argues that his presence with knives was unrelated to the incident, asserting that he was not planning to commit terrorism at the embassy.
