Man jailed for life over Israeli embassy knife attack attempt

Abdullah Albadri, 34, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for attempting a knife attack at the Israeli embassy in Kensington. The sentencing took place on Monday at the Old Bailey, where Mrs Justice Lambert KC delivered the judgment.

Attempted embassy breach

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The incident occurred on 28 April 2025 when Albadri jumped onto an 8ft-high metal fence at the Israeli embassy. He was carrying two 4-inch knives and was tackled by armed police before he could enter the grounds. Albadri had arrived in the UK on a small boat 16 days prior to the attempted attack. He was found guilty by a majority verdict of preparation of terrorist acts and possession of two bladed articles.

During his trial, the court heard that Albadri was motivated by the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza. He told police he wanted to "do something to stop the war" and expressed a desire to "make a crime inside there". He also stated he wanted to "exact revenge" for the killing of children in Gaza. When searched, officers found two 10cm-long blades and a handwritten verse titled "the benefit of martyrdom".

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Court proceedings revealed that Albadri had twice entered the UK on small boats. His first arrival was in August 2021, and his asylum application was not decided before he returned to France. He crossed the Channel again in April 2025 and was housed in a hotel in Basingstoke for three days. He was informed he was not eligible for accommodation due to his pending asylum application. He had been sleeping rough in the days leading up to the attempted embassy attack.

Defence and prosecution arguments

Albadri's defence barrister, Chris Henley KC, argued that the plan "could never ever have succeeded" and that "there was no serious risk of any harm to anybody". He suggested Albadri's attire and actions were "deliberately designed to draw attention to himself" and that he had spent the morning seeking housing assistance. However, prosecutor Catherine Pattison stated that evidence showed people were leaving the embassy at the time and "would not have had any chance to defend themselves" had Albadri succeeded. Judge Lambert noted that Albadri intended to use the knives "to kill and injure people randomly" and that his plan was "not a half-hearted enterprise".

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, stated that Albadri's attempt was thwarted by "courageous and swift actions of officers on duty". She added that the "significant prison sentence he has received reflects the danger he posed on the day and the lack of remorse he has shown since he was arrested".