Man who planned terrorist attack at Embassy of Israel jailed for 20 years

A man who planned a terrorist attack at the Embassy of Israel has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

Abdullah Sabah Albadri, aged 34, attempted to gain entry to the diplomatic premises in Kensington on 28 April last year armed with two knives. However, his attack was quickly thwarted by armed officers from the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, who immediately intervened and prevented Albadri from climbing over the gates of the Embassy.

He was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday, 5 October after he was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006

Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, said:

“Albadri’s attempt to carry out a terrorist attack at the embassy was thwarted due to the courageous and swift actions of officers on duty, who prevented him from breaching the security perimeter.

“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.

“I want to praise the officers’ incredible bravery and professionalism, which, remarkably, resulted in nobody being seriously injured – despite being confronted by a man armed with knives, intent on carrying out a terrorist attack.

“Sadly, the Embassy has faced various security alerts in recent times. However, CTP works closely with the Embassy and our colleagues in the Met to continuously review and strengthen protective security plans to ensure the site and the wider community is kept as safe as possible.”

Following his arrest outside the Embassy, an investigation by CTP detectives found that Albadri wanted to attack the Israeli embassy as an act of revenge against the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.

Body-worn footage from Albadri’s arrest showed that he told officers he had “weapons” and wanted to “make a crime” inside the Embassy.

Officers found two knives with red-and-white handles inside his pockets. Albadri also had a martyrdom note on him when he was arrested, which explained that he intended to die, in his words, “for the glory of God”.

Analysis of Albadri’s phone by the investigation team revealed that, in the days before he attempted to enter the Embassy, he had researched its location.

Officers also recovered CCTV footage from the day of the incident in which Albadri was seen walking from Kilburn in north-west London to the Embassy in Kensington. He was wearing a red-and-white scarf wrapped around his head and mouth, and sunglasses.

Officers also found he had also searched several Arabic terms related to suicide and martyrdom during the five days leading up to his arrest.

These internet searches further strengthened the case that he had been planning to carry out a terrorist attack – particularly when contrasted with his previous search history, which had been focused around his attempts in securing asylum status, after entering the UK on a small boat from France on 12 April, 2025.

Following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey, Albadri (28.12.1991) of no fixed abode, a Kuwaiti national, was convicted of one count of preparation of terrorist acts, contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act, 2006 and two counts of possession of a pointed or bladed article, contrary to section 139(1) and (6) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1988.

He was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 20 years, for the section 5 offence and a total sentence of one year and six months, to run concurrently, for the possession of a knife offences.