Murder accused ‘plotted MP attacks for two years'

A MAN accused of murdering Sir David Amess plotted terror attacks against two other MPs, a court heard yesterday.

- John Twomey

Ali Harbi Ali, 25, carried out reconnaissance at the home address of one member of parliament and turned up at the constituency office of a second, it was alleged.

He completed a similar reconnaissance outside the Houses of Parliament, London’s Westminster Magistrates Court was told.

James Cable, prosecuting, said the alleged plots involving the two other MPs stretched back to May 2019.

Last Friday, Ali allegedly stabbed Sir David, 69, to death at the veteran Conservative backbencher’s “Meet your MP” session at a church hall in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Custody

He allegedly targeted the father of five due to his voting record in support of air strikes on Syria, the court heard.

Yesterday, Ali made a brief appearance at court charged with Sir David’s murder on October 15 and a separate charge of preparing acts of terrorism between May 2019 and September 2021.

Wearing a grey tracksuit, he spoke only to state his full name, date of birth and address. He did not enter pleas to either charge.

Ali, of Kentish Town, north London, was remanded in custody until today, when he is due to appear at the Old Bailey.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told the bearded, bespectacled defendant the charges he faces are “indictable only”, meaning he can only be tried at a crown court.