A 34-year-old man who attempted to enter the Israeli embassy in London while armed with two knives has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years. Abdullah Albadri was convicted of preparing to carry out terrorist acts and possessing two bladed weapons in connection with the attempted attack at the embassy in Kensington on April 28, 2025.
The court heard that Albadri arrived in the United Kingdom by small boat 16 days before the incident. He had previously travelled to Britain in 2021 and sought asylum but left for France before his application was determined.
After crossing the English Channel again in April 2025, Albadri was temporarily accommodated at a hotel in Basingstoke. He was later left without accommodation after authorities determined that he was not eligible for housing because of his outstanding asylum application.
Prosecutors told the court that he spent the days before the attack sleeping rough. On the day of the incident, Albadri walked towards the embassy wearing a red and white Arabic scarf around his head and sunglasses. He reportedly saluted two diplomatic protection officers before attempting to climb a fence surrounding the embassy.
Armed police intervened and restrained him before he could enter the premises. A search revealed two knives, each measuring about 10 centimetres, as well as a handwritten religious verse referring to the “benefit of martyrdom”.
During questioning, Albadri admitted that he intended to commit a crime inside the embassy and questioned why officers had stopped him. He later told investigators that his intention had been to “do something to stop the war”. The Old Bailey heard that his motivation was linked to the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza.
On Monday, Mrs Justice Lambert KC sentenced Albadri to life imprisonment and ordered that he serve at least 20 years before becoming eligible for parole.
