Ali Harbi Ali told Old Bailey that he had killed the conservative Southend West MP to “prevent further harm to Muslims” and considered him “one of the list”. The 26-year-old told jurors he killed the father of five because he was among lawmakers who voted in favor of bombing Syria in 2014 and 2015. Ali stabbed Sir David, 69, more than 20 times in the leg at Belfers’s Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, shortly after noon on October 15, 2021, the jury was told. Sir David died on the spot. Ali, a former radiography student from Kentish Town in north London, admits to killing the MP but denies plotting terrorism and murder. Prosecutors say Ali spent two years plotting a “cold and calculated assassination” and investigating twelve politicians, including Michael Gove, Dominic Raab and Sir Keir Starmer, before settling with Sir David. Ali confirmed that a note found on his phone from 2019 described “plans that I had to attack and I hope to kill Michael Gove at that time”. The terror suspect went on to admit that he went to Mr Gove’s house, armed with a knife in his backpack, and later walked out of parliament. Image: Conservative MP Sir David Amess stabbed to death in a church where he underwent surgery Giving evidence of wearing a long black tunic tucked around his neck over jeans and a goat’s beard and glasses, Ali said he did not regret any of his actions and would kill Sir David again if he were alive on the day of the attack. Sometimes smiling and leaning casually on one hand as he spoke, he described himself as a “moderate Muslim” who carried the knife because he could not reach Syria to fight the so-called Islamic State. He told the jury: “I decided to do it because I felt that if I could kill someone who decided to kill Muslims, it could prevent further harm to those Muslims. “He (Sir David) has previously voted in parliament, not only him … I decided if I could not do hijra, if I could not help the Muslims (in Syria), I would do something here.” Asked by defense attorney Tracy Ayling QC what difference it would make to assassinate Sir David, Ali said: “For one, he can not vote again. “If he ‘had a precedent’ for such votes, he will not do so in the future and may send a message to his colleagues.” He added: “You need a certain number of votes … so it’s one of the lists.” Image: A vigil was held for Sir David at Leigh-on-Sea after his death Ali said he was “deeply sorry” that he could not join the IK terrorist group and did not think the attack was wrong. When asked by the prosecutor if he was “completely shameless”, the terrorism suspect replied: “I would not use the word shameless, but no I do not feel any shame. “If I thought something was wrong, I would not do it.” Asked if he had regretted the murder, Ali simply replied: “No.” He added: “If I thought I had done something wrong, I would not have done it. I consider myself a Muslim who went out and killed someone who killed Muslims.” Prosecutor Tom Little QC asked, “Do you not consider yourself a radical?” Ali replied: “I am a moderate Muslim.” Image: Ali Harbi Ali admits to killing MP, but denies murder The terror suspect backed down from previous comments the court heard he made to police that Sir David’s assassination was an act of “terror”, instead of comparing his actions to lawmakers who voted in favor of the Syrian airstrikes. He told the court: “I do not think I would use those words now. “If I were to use this word for myself, I would expect the British politicians who bombed Syria to use this word for themselves.” Ali, who was accompanied by three security guards during his 80-minute stay in the witness box, also told the court that he was expecting a “witness” to die when police arrived at the scene, but dropped his knife when he realized they were not carrying weapons. When asked if he would be ready to kill an armed police officer, he said he would “bring a knife to a fight”, adding: “I did not expect it, but if it happened, it happened”. Ali described his childhood in south London as “full of love and care”, but said he felt “obliged to do something” after seeing the cover of the Arab uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2010. The trial was adjourned until Monday for the final speech.
