Kuwaiti jailed for life in UK after failed Israeli embassy attack

Abdullah Sabah Albadri, a 34-year-old Kuwaiti national, has been sentenced to life in prison after attempting to breach the Israeli embassy in London with two knives. The attempted terrorist attack occurred on April 2025, following Albadri's arrival in the UK from France in 2021.

Law enforcement officers, including armed diplomatic protection police, apprehended Albadri before he could scale the embassy's walls. Body-camera footage revealed Albadri expressing his intent to commit a crime inside the embassy building. Albadri was found guilty of preparing terrorist acts and possessing two knives at his trial at the Old Bailey in London in April.

A spokesperson from Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, Helen Flanagan, emphasized the gravity of the sentence, stating that it reflects the danger posed by Albadri and his lack of remorse since his arrest. The officers responsible for his capture were commended for their bravery and professionalism, which prevented any serious injuries despite the potential threat.

Albadri's online searches for the Israeli embassy's location and Arabic terms related to suicide attacks during the five days leading up to his arrest further supported the case of his intent to carry out a terrorist attack. On the day of the incident, CCTV footage showed Albadri arriving in a red-and-white scarf, sunglasses, and armed with knives.

As a stateless Arabian Bedouin born on the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border, Albadri claimed he had no human rights or passport in Kuwait. He stated that his father, a police officer, had funded his education until he was 18, after which he became a human-rights activist.