Chilling CCTV of a terror suspect’s journey to fatally stab Sir David Amess at a constituency appointment have been shown at the Old Bailey murder trial.
Ali Harbi Ali, 26, is accused of stabbing to death the veteran MP for Southend West in the back room of a church in Leigh on Sea, moments after quizzing Sir David on foreign policy and then saying: “Sorry”.
Jurors in the murder trial on Tuesday were shown footage of a person the prosecution claim to be Ali as he walked among members of the public, including school children, as he made the near-two-and-a-half hour trek from his home in Kentish Town, north London to Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 last year.
The person in the video, wearing a long, khaki coat and with a black, backpack slung over his right shoulder, could even be seen appearing to assist a fellow passenger with directions as he waited for his connection at Barking railway station.
The Old Bailey heard he then spent about 25 minutes lying in wait, yards from the church building where he was due to meet Sir David, having duped his staff into believing he was a healthcare worker moving to the area and wanted to discuss local matters.
The prosecution say Ali, a university dropout, is accused of plotting a terrorist attack on a politician for years prior to the fatal stabbing of Sir David.
It is said he “scoped out” the west London home of Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, alleged drawing up a plan to attack the cabinet minister while he was out jogging or break into his home at night.
Ali, a former trainee radiographer, had researched other MPs including Sir Keir Starmer and Dominic Raab, as well as looking up information online about the Tory Party conference and Downing Street, it is claimed
He is accused of also visiting the north London constituency office of Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer during the course of two years of terrorist plotting.
Ali stabbed Sir David 21 times with a carving knife with a 12-inch blade, it is alleged, while sending a WhatsApp message apologising to his family and friends which attempted to justify his actions.
The court heard he said after the stabbing that it was carried out “for the sake of Allah” and in reaction to the bombing of Syria.
Ali spoke to his worried sister on the phone for 14 minutes, as Sir David lay bleeding to death, before being apprehended by two unarmed plain-clothes police officers, who pinned him to the floor and arrested him.
Sir David, a married father-of-five, was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Tom Little QC took the jury through a timeline of events leading up to the Sir David’s death, including email exchanges between Ali and the politician’s aide Rebecca Hayton.
On September 27, Ali emailed Sir David’s office to ask about a meeting.
He wrote: “I will be moving to the area from a Labour-held constituency and wanted to get to know my future MP.
“Since I work in healthcare, I would like to know his plans, if any, for the hospital and workers.
“Also, as someone interested in Christianity, I have seen many churches in my area losing attendances and struggle with upkeep, eventually becoming at risk of being demolished or repurposed.
“I wanted to know if the situation in Southend is similar and, if so, what are the solutions.”
He added: “Looking forward to seeing you soon. If all appointments are taken, let me know if there’s a cancellation. I’ll be in the local area and will be able to drop by.”
Ms Hayton responded by requesting Ali’s address and full name to check he was a constituent.
Ali gave a postcode in Southend and told her: “I’ll be in the local area on Friday so it would be nice to see him regardless, although I know he’s a very busy man so I can appreciate (it) if that’s not possible.”
Ms Hayton told Ali she would be happy to book him in for October 15.
He later confirmed he was “able to clear up my schedule” and asked for an appointment at noon.
He told Ms Hayton: “I don’t really know how long the appointments are but I don’t think I’ll take too long. Thanks for all the help so far.”
The court heard that around the time of the attack on Sir David, Ali sent a message to family and friends which appeared to have been drafted days before, the court was told.
He allegedly wrote: “I apologise to my family for deceiving them for so long. I would have preferred Hijrah so as not to harm you but I could not.
“The obligations upon me to take revenge for the blood of Muslims were too great.
“The shame of abiding in the very lands that carry out these horrendous acts against my brothers and sisters was too much.”
Ali, from Kentish Town, north London, has denied preparing terrorist acts and murder.
The trial continues.
