Man arrested outside Israeli embassy describes dangerous boat crossings to UK

During the trial, Albadri described his background: born into the stateless Arabian Bedoon tribe on the Iraq–Kuwait border, with no passport. He said his father, a police officer, funded his education until 18, that he became a human rights activist, and that he faced five years in prison for handing out flyers. He said his aim in coming to the UK was prosperity, freedom and human rights, and that the defence is likely to argue he had no terrorist intent in entering the embassy.

Albadri was arrested while attempting to break into the Israeli embassy in London, armed with two knives. The arrest was referenced in proceedings at the Old Bailey, where he faced charges of preparing terrorist acts and two counts of possession of a bladed article.

Albadri made a second crossing to the UK in April 2025, paying £1,200 to armed smugglers to transport him back to Dover with 63 other migrants. He said one smuggler carried a pistol and migrants were loaded onto the vessel in a line. In Britain, he found temporary accommodation at an asylum seekers' hotel in Basingstoke but was told he could not stay there.

Albadri first entered Britain on a small boat from France, carrying 83 people. He described the voyage as dangerous and said his life jacket was given to a child; he later attempted to hitch-hike to Manchester but woke up in France after sleeping in the back of a lorry. He was granted residency status later and worked as a driver in Lyon, learning French and paying taxes, but citizenship was refused.