[ad_1]
A “bloodthirsty” and “fanatical” terrorist has been found guilty of the murder of MP Sir David Amess.
The veteran Conservative politician was stabbed to death during a constituency surgery meeting in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in October last year.
The MP for Southend West suffered more than 20 stab wounds in a “vicious and frenzied” attack that was “an assassination for terrorist purposes”, a court heard.
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Ali Harbi Ali was convicted of murder and a charge of preparing acts of terrorism.
The defendant refused to stand “on religious grounds” as jurors delivered their verdicts after just 18 minutes deliberating.
Sir David’s family sat in the well of the courtroom, just metres from Ali who showed no emotion in the dock.
Following the guilty verdicts, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sir David was a “beloved colleague, public servant and friend” and his thoughts were with the MP’s widow Julia and the Amess family.
In response to the jury’s decision, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey tweeted: “Good. Justice delivered though we will never have Sir David back.”
Islamic State fanatic had targeted Michael Gove
The Old Bailey heard how Ali was a “bloodthirsty” Islamic State supporter who had spent years hatching his plot to kill an MP.
A jury took just 18 minutes to convict Ali Harbi Ali
The 26-year-old had researched a number of potential high-profile political targets including Michael Gove, Dominic Raab and Sir Keir Starmer, before settling on Sir David.
He managed to arrange an appointment with the MP by duping the politician’s office into believing he was a healthcare worker moving to the area who wished to discuss local matters.
The university dropout travelled from his home in Kentish Town, north London, to Belfairs Methodist Church in…
[ad_2]
Source : skynews
