Failed asylum seeker is jailed for minimum of 20 years after trying to break into London's Israeli embassy to launch knife attack

A failed asylum seeker has been jailed for life after he tried to break into London's Israeli embassy to launch a knife attack.Kuwait-born Abdullah Albadri, 34, was tackled by armed police after he leapt up an embassy fence armed with two four-inch knives.Jurors were told he had tried to get into the grounds in Kensington, west London, to 'exact revenge' for the killing of children in Gaza. He was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts and possession of two bladed articles and was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years.The court heard the sentence was adjusted to 18 years and 207 days less time served on remand.Albadri appeared emotionless in the dock as the sentence was read out by Mrs Justice Lambert KC.Jurors previously heard how Albadri was refused asylum after he twice entered the UK in small boats in 2021 and April 2025.The defendant, who was born into the stateless Arabian Bedoon tribe, said he had been jailed and mistreated for campaigning for human rights in Kuwait. Abdullah Albadri, 34, was tackled by armed police after he leapt up the Israeli embassy fence The failed asylum seeker was stopped by police outside the Israeli embassy in London in April last year CCTV showed Albadri walking towards the embassy with his face covered in April 2025On April 28 last year, he was captured on CCTV walking for an hour from Kilburn in north-west London to the embassy with his head covered by dark sunglasses and a distinctive red and white keffiyeh. Just before 6pm, Albadri arrived outside the embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens and made a gesture like a salute before he jumped up the 8ft high metal fence.Within seconds, two armed diplomatic protection officers reached up and grabbed the defendant, pulling him to the ground.Pc Libby Chessor told jurors it had been 'challenging' pulling Albadri off the fence because he had been holding on 'quite strongly'.She said: '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.'Albadri was pinned down by officers and handcuffed before being searched.On police body-worn video shown in court, Albadri indicated he had 'got my weapons'.Two red-handled 4in long knives with serrated blades were seized along with pieces of paper including a 'martyrdom note'. Albadri could then be seen climbing high railings as two police officers approached him CCTV footage also showed how Albadri was pinned to the ground and detained by police Albadri was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts and possession of two bladed articles and has now been sentenced for a minimum term of 20 yearsAlbadri told police: 'I wanna make a crime inside there, why are you stopping me? Why are you stopping from making crimes?' He went on to complain: 'Why didn't you let me in?'Before being put into a police van, Albadri was heard on police body-worn video to say: 'You know it's just a message, yeah.'They need to stop this f****** war on children.'We need to live in harmony because the children who live there, it's all the same.'We are living in the same Earth, it's not a faraway place…'The defendant later denied preparing to commit an act of terrorism and said the knives were intended for 'personal use' as he was homeless.Giving evidence in his trial, Albadri had insisted he never intended to take his shouted protest inside the grounds of the embassy or harm anyone.He said: 'It is against what I believe. It is against my nature.'It is against my character. How are we going to stop killing by killing?'He said he was being 'sarcastic' by referring to the knives as 'weapons' and his alleged martyrdom note was just an overly dramatic letter to his mother.Defence barrister Chris Henry KC said Albadri had been in a 'state of total despair' but had tried to get help after his asylum claim was rejected and he was told to leave an asylum hotel. A Metropolitan Police officer found what was said to be a suicide note written in ArabicHe said: 'This trial is not about our views of asylum seekers who come across on small boats.'This case is about a human being in real distress and what is going on inside his head.'In his evidence, Albadri had denied wanting to harm anyone but conceded he would consider being shot while protesting peacefully to be a form of martyrdom.Albadri had first entered the UK on August 5, 2021, arriving at Dover in a small boat from France.He applied for asylum but he left the country weeks later and spent five years living and working in France as a delivery driver.After failing to gain citizenship in France, he returned to the UK in the early hours of April 13 last year, arriving at Ramsgate in a small boat, and was provided temporary accommodation at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Basingstoke.However, Home Office officials spotted his previous application and he was told he needed to leave the hotel by April 17 and was not entitled to state support.Albadri approached asylum charities and law firms asking them to help him launch an appeal but became increasingly desperate when he was told they were too busy to take on his case.He went to stay with a family friend in London but ended up attending the Islamic Centre of England and sleeping rough in London parks.Albadri made frequent calls to Migrant Help, the Red Cross, numerous law firms and exchanged WhatsApp messages with a contact called Alex from Care4Calais.He tried to find work as a dish cleaner in takeaways and in a car wash but in a voice note to Alex on April 24, Albadri told her he was 'really desperate'.The Israeli embassy previously said it 'welcomes the verdict' against Albadri.A spokesman added: 'The United Kingdom bears a clear responsibility to protect and safeguard its diplomatic partners, and we appreciate the ongoing efforts of the security authorities in providing continuous protection to the Embassy.'The State of Israel will not be deterred by acts of terror or intimidation. We will continue to carry out our diplomatic mission from London and across all our missions worldwide with determination and resolve.'