Man Found Guilty of Preparing Terrorist Attack on Israeli Embassy

In a troubling case, a jury has convicted an illegal immigrant for plotting a terrorist act against the Israeli embassy in London. Abdullah Sabah al-Badri, a 34-year-old who entered the UK unlawfully twice, was found guilty of preparing a terrorist act and possessing knives in public.

During the trial, the court learned that Al-Badri, dressed in a keffiyeh, had spent four hours walking around London praying before he reached the embassy on April 28 last year. He greeted two armed police officers and attempted to climb an 8-foot iron fence, only to be pulled back by them. It was noted that he held two knives with him.

After being apprehended, Al-Badri expressed frustration toward the police, blaming them for interrupting his intentions. He seemed to desire a more violent confrontation, even suggesting they should have let him go ahead with his plans.

Evidence against him included a note found in his pocket detailing the “benefits of martyrdom” and a heartfelt message to his mother, urging her to “be proud” because he intended to fight the enemy. His comments to officers also contributed to the case against him.

While in custody, Al-Badri outright stated to police, “I want to commit a crime there, why are you stopping me?” This admission underscored his intentions and state of mind during the incident.

He openly admitted his hopes of dying as a martyr, claiming it would be preferable to his current situation. Notably, Al-Badri had entered the UK illegally on a migrant boat just two weeks before attempting the attack, and he had a history of incarceration in Kuwait.

The Crown Prosecution Service described his actions as carefully planned and premeditated, confirming that the jury supported this assessment. A spokesperson noted, “He deliberately armed himself, concealed his identity, and made an aggressive attempt to breach the diplomatic compound.” Fortunately, thanks to the rapid response of law enforcement, no one was harmed during the incident.

The Metropolitan Police expressed commendation for their officers, highlighting the unexpected outcome of no serious injuries despite facing a knife-wielding attacker. They emphasized the thorough investigative work that followed the arrest, ensuring all evidence was collected to support the charges.