A failed asylum seeker has been found guilty of attempting to break into the Israeli embassy in London to launch a knife attack. Abdullah Albadri, 34, originally from Kuwait, was overpowered by armed police after scaling an 8ft fence while carrying two serrated knives, each four inches long, in May last year.
Details of the Incident
Jurors at the Old Bailey were informed that Albadri aimed to 'exact revenge' for the deaths of children in Gaza. Following nearly 14 hours of deliberation, the jury convicted him of preparation of terrorist acts and possession of two bladed articles. He has been remanded in custody pending sentencing at a later date.
Albadri, a member of the stateless Arabian Bedoon tribe, had his asylum claim rejected after arriving in the UK via small boats in 2021 and again in April 2025. He claimed he was jailed and mistreated in Kuwait for advocating human rights.
Chronology of Events
On April 28 last year, Albadri was captured on CCTV walking from Kilburn in north-west London to the embassy, his face obscured by dark sunglasses and a distinctive red and white headscarf. Just before 6pm, he arrived at the embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens, made a salute-like gesture, and jumped onto the metal fence. Within seconds, two armed diplomatic protection officers pulled him down.
Pc Libby Chessor described the arrest as 'challenging' because Albadri held onto the fence 'quite strongly'. She stated, 'The way he was walking towards the embassy, the things he was saying, how quickly he jumped up, I believed it was his intent to get over that railing.'
After being handcuffed, a search revealed the two knives and a 'martyrdom note' written in Arabic. On police body-worn video, Albadri admitted, 'I wanna make a crime inside there, why are you stopping me?' He later added, 'You know it's just a message, yeah. They need to stop this f****** war on children.'
Defence and Verdict
In his defence, Albadri claimed the knives were for 'personal use' as he was homeless and denied any intent to harm. He said, 'It is against what I believe. It is against my nature.' His barrister, Chris Henry KC, argued that Albadri was in 'total despair' after his asylum claim was rejected and he was asked to leave a hotel. The jury, however, found him guilty after extensive deliberation.
