An ‘Islamic extremist’ admitted killing a pensioner and trying to kill his housemate in protest at the Israel and Hamas conflict, a court heard.
Ahmed Ali Alid told police officers that he would have killed more people if he was able to after he was arrested following the death of Terrance Carney and attack on Javed Nouri.
The 45-year-old Moroccan asylum seeker repeatedly stabbed his housemate before wandering the streets of Hartlepool and coming across the 70-year-old Hartlepool pensioner.
A video recording of his police interview, which was played to the jury at Teesside Crown Court, captured Alid saying he would have killed more people if he "had a rifle".
Alid said: “I swear to Allah if I had a rifle or heavy weapon there would have been more to kill these people as they (Israel) have killed innocent children.
“If I had a Kalashnikov or rifle, I would have killed them to the last bullet.”
Detectives investigating the alleged murder and attempted murder asked the suspect if he intended to kill Mr Carney and Mr Nouri.
Alid replied: “Yes, yes.”
When asked to explain why, the murder suspect replied: “Yes, I wanted to kill him as Israel kill children but I kill two old people.
“This life stinks and Israel has to leave (Gaza).”
When asked why he targeted Mr Carney, Alid said: “He was an innocent person but he died because Israel is killing children.”
Alid told the officers that he stabbed Mr Nouri six times while he was asleep in his bedroom before he repeatedly stabbed Mr Carney when he saw him taking his regular early-morning walk in the town centre.
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The asylum seeker had been reported to police and housing managers as his behaviour became increasingly concerning when he carried a knife in the shared property, jurors had heard.
Alid, of Wharton Terrace, Hartlepool, denies he murdered the pensioner.
He also denies the attempted murder of his housemate and two charges of assaulting an emergency worker.
The trial continues.
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