Failed asylum seeker who attempted knife attack on Israeli embassy in London jailed for life

A failed asylum seeker who tried to launch a knife attack on London's Israeli embassy has been jailed for life.

Kuwait-born Abdullah Albadri, 34, sought to "exact revenge" for the killing of children in Gaza with the April 2025 attack, the Old Bailey previously heard.

Wearing a keffiyeh wrapped around his head and sunglasses, he leapt up a fence at the embassy in Kensington, west London, armed with a pair of four-inch knives before being tackled by police officers.

In May he was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts and possession of two bladed weapons.

On Monday, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years.

The sentence was adjusted to 18 years and 207 days, less time served on remand.

Albadri appeared emotionless in the dock during sentencing.

He was refused asylum after he entered the UK in small boats twice - in August 2021 and April 2025 - the court previously heard.

Albadri told jurors that he had been jailed and mistreated for campaigning for human rights in Kuwait.

On 28 April last year, he was captured on CCTV walking for an hour from Kilburn in north-west London to the Israeli embassy.

He arrived outside the embassy just before 6pm and made a gesture like a salute before he jumped onto the metal fence.

Two armed diplomatic protection officers apprehended him within seconds, seizing the serrated blades and pieces of paper including a "martyrdom note".

PC Libby Chessor previously told the court it had been "challenging" pulling Albadri off the fence because he held on "quite strongly".

Albadri told police: "I wanna make a crime inside there, why are you stopping me?"

He went on to complain: "Why didn't you let me in?"

In body-worn police footage, Albadri was heard saying: "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."

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Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, London, said Albadri's sentence reflected the danger he posed and his lack of remorse.

She 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.

"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."

(c) Sky News 2026: Failed asylum seeker who attempted knife attack on Israeli embassy in London jailed for life