London / Courts / Security

Man given life sentence over planned attack on Israeli embassy in London

Abdullah Sabah Albadri was sentenced at the Old Bailey on 5 October after officers stopped him entering the embassy with two knives in April 2025.

6 OCT 2026 · 1 min read

The Israeli embassy in London in September 2007. Archive of the targeted premises, not the attempted attack or sentencing. — Archive · Chesdovi / Wikimedia Commons · September 2007 · CC BY 3.0 · display crop · Licence · Cropped for display. Context image, not a photograph of this event.

Abdullah Sabah Albadri has been sentenced to life imprisonment for preparing a terrorist attack at the Israeli embassy in Kensington. The Old Bailey imposed a minimum term of 20 years on Monday, 5 October, the Metropolitan Police said.

Officers stopped him at the gates

Armed officers intervened on 28 April 2025 as Albadri, carrying two knives, tried to enter the diplomatic premises. Police said they prevented him climbing over the gates and that nobody was seriously injured. The sentencing is the new development; the attempted attack took place last year.

Convictions after trial

Following a two-week trial, Albadri was convicted of preparing terrorist acts and two offences of possessing a bladed article. The Met says the knife offences attracted a total sentence of 18 months, running concurrently with the life sentence. The 20-year minimum term should not be confused with a fixed 20-year sentence or a guaranteed release date.