A man who tried to break into the Israeli embassy in London carrying knives was a small boat migrant from Kuwait.
Abdullah Albadri, 34, is accused of planning a terror attack in Palace Green, Kensington, on April 28 last year, the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday.
Catherine Pattison, prosecuting, said that at just before 6pm, Mr Albadri, armed with two knives and with a red and white scarf wrapped around his head and face, jumped on to an 8ft fence and tried to enter the embassy grounds.
Ms Pattison said Mr Albadri was “almost successful in his attempt to scale the fence”, and that had it not been for the armed diplomatic protection officers there to reach up and grab him, he would have been.
He later told police “that he wanted to send a message, to stop the killing of children, to stop the war”, which prosecutors said was a reference to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the court heard.
Jurors were told that police officers seized several pieces of paper, including one which “read as a martyrdom note”.
Mr Albadri has denied in a prepared statement to police that he was preparing to commit an act of terrorism.
He added the knives were intended for “personal use” as he was homeless.
Abdullah Albadri is accused of targeting the Israeli embassy
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The court heard that Mr Albadri first entered the UK in August 2021, arriving at Dover in a small boat from France.
He applied for permission to stay in the country but did not attend an interview with the Home Office.
The defendant had left the country but returned on a small boat from France in April 2025.
He was provided temporary accommodation and tried to begin the process to apply for permission to stay in the UK, the court heard, however his application for asylum was later rejected.
The hearing is taking place at the Old Bailey
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Ms Pattison told the court: “The prosecution say that Mr Albadri’s intention was to use or threaten serious violence against the Israeli government, to exact revenge for its alleged murder of children.
“The existence and contents of his suspected martyrdom note, along with his possession of two knives, and material downloaded from his mobile phone, demonstrate his intention to use violence against people inside the Israeli embassy and sacrifice his own life in the process, to die, in his words, ‘for the glory of God’.
“Thus, say the prosecution, this was an act of terrorism intended by him.
“His intended threat or use of serious violence was designed to influence the Israeli government, for the purpose of advancing a religious, political or ideological cause.”
Abdullah Albadri denies the charges
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The court heard that hours before the alleged attempt to break into the embassy, Mr Albadri sent his mother a picture of a handwritten note, which had the line: “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.”
Jurors were told that the letter added: “This is the only way and the last resolution for me.”
Ms Pattison said that the note was written by someone “intent on ending their life” and “in his mind, proving a point by doing so”.
The court heard that after his arrest, Mr Albadri told officers “I just want them motherf****** stopping bull**** for kids. There are too many kids, man”.
He allegedly asked officers “Why not let me in?”, the court was told.
Mr Albadri denies preparation of terrorist acts and possession of two bladed articles.
The trial continues.