Man accused of Sir David Amess murder ‘scoped out’ Michael Gove’s home six times, court told

The man accused of killing Sir David Amess researched a string of high-profile MPs as he plotted revenge for air strikes in Syria, a court has heard.

David Amess

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer were among those identified by Islamic State-inspired terrorist Ali Harbi Ali, the Old Bailey was told.

Following his arrest, Ali, 26, explained how he had been self-radicalised between 2014 and 2015.

By 2021, he had allegedly decided to carry out an attack on home turf and focused on some of the 523 MPs who voted on air strikes in Syria.

Ali Harbi Ali in the dock at the Old Bailey in London

He went to the Houses of Parliament for reconnaissance seven times but found police there were “armed to the teeth”, jurors were told.

Prosecutor Tom Little QC said London-born Ali tried to find out the home addresses and surgeries of MPs.

He visited Tory MP Mike Freer’s surgery in Finchley, north London, and looked at photographs of Mr Gove’s home in west London, the court heard.

Mr Little said: “He decided against attacking Mr Gove as he learned Mr Gove had split up from his wife and the house had got sold.”

The prosecutor said Ali considered “bumping into” the minister “while he was out jogging”.

The defendant’s bank transactions showed he had travelled to west London to “scope out” Mr Gove’s home six times between March and July last year.

He also carried out internet research on Sir Keir, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, the court was told.

It is alleged Ali visited Mr Freer’s website which gave dates for his MP surgeries.

On September 21 last year, the Wikipedia page for Mr Wallace was allegedly searched.

The following day, Ali searched Wikipedia pages relating to Mr Raab and his Esher and Walton constituency, jurors were told.

Ali went on to carry out internet research for Sir Keir and Tory MP Richard Fuller.

Two days later, Ali had moved on to Sir David’s constituency.

Jurors have heard how Ali “tricked” his way into getting an appointment to see Sir David by claiming he was moving to the area.

He repeatedly stabbed the veteran Tory MP in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, before being apprehended by unarmed police officers.

Asked in his police interview if it was a terror attack, Ali allegedly replied: “I mean, I guess yeah, I killed an MP, and I done it.”

Ali, 26, from Kentish Town, north London, has denied preparing acts of terrorism and murder.