'Fanatical terrorist' Ali Harbi Ali found guilty of murdering MP Sir David Amess at surgery

dailystar.co.uk:

stabbing Southend West MP Sir David Amess, has been found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey after a judge said he had no legal defence.Ali, 26, said in evidence on Thursday that he stabbed the long-serving Conservative MP at his regular surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on 15 October 2021 as "retribution for airstrikes" in Syria.The Islamic State fanatic carried out the “cold and calculating” murder at the veteran MP’s constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on October 15 last year.He told the Old Bailey trial he had no regrets about the murder, defending his actions by saying Sir David deserved to die as a result of voting in Parliament for air strikes on Syria in 2014 and 2015.A jury deliberated for just 18 minutes to find Ali guilty of murder and preparing for terrorist acts.Ali sent a manifesto on WhatsApp to family and friends seeking to justify his actions around the time of the attack, telling Sir David he was “sorry” before plunging the knife into him, causing the politician to scream.He died at the scene.Knife-wielding Ali was later apprehended by two police officers armed only with batons and spray.Essex Police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow praised his officers’ “astounding bravery” in tackling Ali.He said: “They’ve basically gone in armed with a stick – something that appears smaller than a deodorant can – to deal with a man that has just committed an absolutely heinous act, still armed with that knife.“I think it’s an astounding act of bravery.”Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill QC said the murder was “the most appalling tragedy”, particularly for the Amess family, and an “attack on democracy”.He said: “I’m obviously pleased that at the end of what must have been a very difficult trial for Sir.