An Islamic extremist has been jailed for 45 years for the murder of a pensioner and attempted murder of his flat mate after he was inspired by the Gaza conflict.
A judge branded him a 'dangerous offender' who used violence to attempt to influence the government over its stance on Israel's actions following the invasion last October.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb DBE said Ahmed Ali Alid told the police he wanted to kill them because of the conflict in Gaza and so that Palestine would be free from “Zionists” and repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he carried out the attacks.
Jurors had heard how Alid picked up to knives before forcing his way into his housemate’s room and stabbing him in the chest as he slept.
The 45-year-old Moroccan asylum seeker was overpowered by Javed Nouri despite his serious injuries and he fled the scene.
Teesside Crown Court heard how minutes later he came across the unsuspecting Hartlepool pensioner as he took his regular early morning stroll.
Alid circled back on Terrence Carney before launching his murderous attack on the defenceless 70-year-old and stabbed him repeatedly before leaving him to die in the street.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb DBE branded the asylum seeker a terrorist as she jailed him for life after he was convicted of the murder and attempted murder.
Sentencing him, she said: "On October 15 last year, you attacked and murdered Terrence Carney in a terrorist act. You intended it as revenge for the actions of Israel and to intimidate and influence the British government in its international relations.
"You hoped to frighten the people of Britain and undermine the freedoms they enjoy.
"When you attempted to kill Javed Nouri, it was also intended to punish him for converting to Christianity because that is not permitted in your Muslim faith which brands him an apostate.
"For each of these offences, you are sentenced to life imprisonment."
The judge told the defendant that he would not be considered for parole until he had served 44 year and 52 days after taking into account the length of time he had served on remand.
Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, had urged the judge to pass a whole-life term of imprisonment due to serious and religious nature of the knife attacks.
The court heard how Alid told police officers he had wanted to kill them because of the conflict in Gaza and to further his desire that Palestine would be free from the Zionists, by which he meant Israel.
During the trial, jurors had watched harrowing CCTV footage of Alid’s fatal attack on Mr Carney could be heard screaming ‘No, no’ as the terrorist repeatedly stabbed him.
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Armed officers heading to the scene at Wharton Terrace came across Mr Carney in the street but were unable to save his life despite their valiant efforts.
The judge heard how Mr Nouri had now left the region as he no longer felt safe.
John Elvidge KC, representing the defendant, urged the judge to pass a determinate sentence and not a whole-life order after telling the court how Ali Alid had no previous convictions.
He said: "He has lived in England since December 2020 and until the summer of 2023, there was no reports about his behaviour from anybody at the address on Wharton Terrace where he had lived for around two year."
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