‘KILLER’ IN CUFFS
Dramatic moment David Amess ‘jihadi’ is tackled and arrested in church where MP was knifed to death
THE dramatic moment a knife-wielding terror suspect was tackled to the ground after allegedly murdering Sir David Amess has been shown to jurors.
Video shows officers yelling at Ali Harbi Ali to drop the blood-stained, foot-long carving knife before pinning him to the ground.
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It came moments after Tory backbencher Sir David was stabbed more than 20 times during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
Footage shown at the Old Bailey today shows Essex police plain-clothed officers after they arrived at Belfairs Methodist Church on October 15 last year.
They were told the MP, 69, had been "stabbed several times" before confronting Ali as he brandished the blade.
Armed only with batons and incapacitant spray, one tells the suspect: "It's only going to go one way. Please drop that knife".
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The officers then charged Ali, who was allegedly on a 14-minute phone call with his "hysterical" sister at the time.
He shouts: "Don't worry. The police got me. They're not gonna shoot."
The footage then shows university drop-out Ali on the ground where he describes himself as a "happy guy" who was "prepared to die".
He asks the officers to put his glasses on his face - causing one of the cops to reply: "Mate, that's not our concern."
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The court was told Ali was taken into custody, where he told the booking-in officer the incident was both "terror" related and had "religious" motivations.
Jurors heard how Ali arranged an appointment with Sir David by duping his office into believing he was a healthcare worker moving to the area.
He then stood up and said "sorry" before pulling a knife out and stabbing the dad-of-five multiple times, it is said.
Horrified witnesses described how he had a look of "self satisfaction" as though he had "achieved something" after the attack, the court heard.
The drop-out allegedly spent years hatching the murderous plot and researched a number of potential targets - including Dominic Raab and Sir Keir Starmer.
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Ali, from Kentish Town in North London, denies preparing terrorist acts and murder.
The trial continues.
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