Man arrested climbing into Israeli embassy had arrived on small boat twice, court hears
Man Arrested Attempting to Enter Israeli Embassy in London Had Made Two Small Boat Crossings from France
A 34-year-old man detained while attempting to scale the 8ft (2.4m) fence surrounding the Israeli embassy in London was found in possession of two knives, according to court testimony. Abdullah Albadri, currently on trial at the Old Bailey, faces charges of preparing for terrorist acts. He denies the accusations, with the prosecution arguing his actions were driven by motives far more dangerous than mere asylum-seeking.
Albadri’s arrest occurred on 28 April last year, when two armed diplomatic protection officers intercepted him near the embassy. Prior to this, he had previously entered the UK by small boat from France on 5 August 2021 and again on 12 April last year, both times crossing the Channel independently. During his second arrival, he was temporarily housed at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Messages and Evidence Point to Martyrdom Intent
Prosecutor Catherine Pattison highlighted that Albadri had sent a message to his mother hours before the arrest, stating, “I chose the path of martyrdom.” The note, later shared via WhatsApp, was described as a “martyrdom note”—a document intended for use by someone who plans to die or expects to be killed in the name of a specific cause. The text concluded with, “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, emphasizing its significance. “It reflects his intent to die, or to be killed, in pursuit of a religious, political, or ideological goal.”
Earlier, Albadri had also reached out to London-based charities assisting asylum seekers, including Migrant Help and Care4Calais. He met with members of the Kuwaiti community and shared a draft email, claiming he was a “human rights activist” arrested in Kuwait. He alleged that his family’s safety was under threat.
Two days after arriving in the UK, Albadri was seen searching for the Israeli embassy on his phone and reviewing religious law related to suicide. On the day of his arrest, he remained in contact with the charities while planning his asylum application. However, at 15:30, he sent a photo of the handwritten note to his mother, accompanied by a knife with a red and white handle.
During the encounter with officers, Albadri declared, “I got my weapons” as he gestured to his pockets. He questioned the officers, asking, “Why are you stopping me? Why are you stopping from making crimes?” Minutes later, he added, “Why didn’t you let me in? I didn’t do what I wanted to do.” The dialogue was captured on body-worn video cameras.
After being taken to Hammersmith Police Station, a sergeant asked Albadri, “When you leave custody, you’re not going to hurt yourself, are you?” He responded, “I’m gonna go back yeah,” before being pressed further: “Where, get back where?” Albadri replied, “The embassy.”
The prosecution insists that the knives were not related to his asylum efforts, but rather part of a broader plan. They argue that his actions on the day of the arrest were deliberate and aligned with a motive of “martyrdom,” despite his claims of having a “good reason” for carrying them.
