Man Arrested Climbing Into Israeli Embassy Had Arrived on Small Boat Twice, Court Hears

A 34-year-old man arrested while attempting to scale the perimeter of the Israeli embassy in London with two knives is on trial at the Old Bailey. The prosecution has revealed that the individual, Abdullah Albadri, made two crossings via small boats from France, according to the court. His arrest occurred on 28 April last year when he was seen approaching the embassy, prompting two armed diplomatic protection officers to intervene.

The incident followed a message Albadri sent to his mother hours earlier, stating, “I chose the path of martyrdom,” the prosecution said. During the arrest, officers discovered several documents on his person, including a handwritten note described as a “martyrdom note” — a statement from someone prepared to die or anticipate death for a religious, political, or ideological cause. Albadri reportedly shared a photo of the note with his mother via WhatsApp, which was recovered from his phone.

“As soon as he arrived outside the Israeli embassy, he jumped onto the fence and tried to climb over it,” said Catherine Pattison, the prosecution’s lead. “Had it not been for the police there, he would have got over it.”

Albadri’s journey to the UK began on 5 August 2021, when he arrived by small boat. By November 2023, he had left the country, only to return on 12 April last year through another maritime crossing. During his stay in temporary accommodation at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Basingstoke, Hampshire, he sent a draft email identifying himself as a “human rights activist” who had been detained in Kuwait. He claimed his life and his family’s were under threat.

Days after his arrival, Albadri engaged with London-based asylum support groups such as Migrant Help and Care4Calais. He also met with members of the Kuwaiti community. However, Pattison emphasized that his actions extended beyond asylum efforts, noting, “Mr Albadri’s intention was not just focused on his application. The prosecution say he had other matters on his mind — matters far more sinister.”

On 24 April, less than two weeks after entering the UK, he researched religious laws related to suicide on his phone before attempting to reach the embassy. The day of his arrest, he remained in contact with charities about his asylum case but shifted focus later. At 15:30, he sent his mother a photo of the note, which included a knife with a red and white handle. The note concluded, “I will not go back on my decision to go in the cause of Allah, to come out for His sake and to stand up to the enemies in order to support the religion of Allah Almighty.”

“This is the note that would have been found with his dead body,” Pattison stated. “A note written by him. A note written by him at a time when he intended to die, or expected to be killed in his pursuit of a specific religious, political or ideological cause.”

During the confrontation, Albadri declared, “I got my weapons” and pointed to his pockets, questioning, “Why are you stopping me? Why are you stopping from making crimes?” Minutes later, he added, “Why didn’t you let me in? I didn’t do what I wanted to do.” The exchange was recorded on body-worn video by the officers. After being detained at Hammersmith Police station, a sergeant asked, “When you leave custody, you’re not going to hurt yourself are you?” Albadri responded, “I’m gonna go back yeah,” before stating, “The embassy.”

The defense argues Albadri’s possession of the knives was unrelated to the embassy incident. His lawyer claims the charges of preparing terrorist acts are unfounded, asserting he had no intent to commit violence during the approach.