Amess murderer given whole life order

The man who stabbed veteran Conservative MP Sir David Amess at his Leigh-on-Sea constituency surgery last year has been given a whole-life sentence.

Ali Harbi Ali has told the court that he had plans to target various MPs, including cabinet minister Michael Gove, motivated by a desire to seek revenge against MPs who had voted for airstrikes on Syria.

At the hearing at the Old Bailey, Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said: "This was a murder that struck at the heart of our democracy."

Following his sentencing, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes, and Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, gave the following statement: “Sir David’s family and loved ones have shown tremendous courage since his murder. The conclusion of the trial ends this chapter but going forward, they and Sir David will forever remain in our thoughts.

“During this trial, we have heard how Sir David came to cross paths with a terrorist who had a settled plan to carry out an attack in the UK. It is clear that the man who begins a life sentence today is a cold, calculated and dangerous individual. His attack was stopped by two Essex Police Constables who apprehended this dangerous man, whilst he was still armed with the knife he had used to kill Sir David. Their actions were nothing short of heroic, and they undoubtedly prevented others from being harmed. Their bravery, and the bravery of the members of the public who witnessed the incident, called 999 and provided invaluable information to the police was remarkable.

“None of that, sadly, can change the tragedy of Sir David’s murder. He was an honourable man who gave everything for his community and who loved his family. Sir David was callously and senselessly murdered working in his constituency, as he had done over a distinguished political career of nearly 40 years.

“In the aftermath of Sir David’s murder, I spoke with many MPs who, despite their shock and concern, went back into their constituencies – just as Sir David had – to serve their communities. Police forces up and down the country are committed to supporting MPs to carry on doing this vital work. Sir David’s murder was an attack on democracy and we will never let terrorists prevail.

“It is five years on since the terrorist attacks of 2017 and the threat of terrorism remains very real. The police and our partners are working as hard as ever across the country to prevent attacks, and to be ready to respond effectively should the worst happen. It is more important than ever that everyone plays their part in tackling terrorism. We have seen from this case that terrorists research and sometimes visit the places they plan to attack. I would urge everyone to stay vigilant and trust their instincts - if you see or hear something unusual or suspicious that might be linked to terrorism - even if it concerns a family member or close friend - then please, report it to police. Your information might just help prevent an attack and save lives."