New Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove (Victoria Jones/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)The alleged killer of Sir David Amess MP drew up a detailed plan to attack Michael Gove including breaking into his home or ambushing him while jogging, the Old Bailey heard on Monday.
Ali Harbi Ali, 26, is accused of stabbing to death Sir David, 69, during a constituency surgery at a church in Leigh on Sea, Essex, last October.
After his arrest, Ali allegedly told police it was a “terrorist attack” carried out in revenge for the bombing of Syria.
Jurors heard Ali is accused of targeting Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove before the fatal stabbing on Sir David, but is thought to have abandoned him as a target when hearing about the minister’s divorce.
Prosecutor Tom Little QC said Ali is suspected of making six reconnaissance visits to Gove’s west London home between March and July last year.
He said Ali’s phone and electronic devices contained a “large number of images of Michael Gove”, including media pictures of the Minister out jogging and images Ali had taken himself of the street where the politician lived.
In a note on his phone, entitled “Plans”, which was last modified in May 2019, it stated:
Morning attack
If there is a press presence I can wait it out with them
See if he uses public transport or hired car
Bump into him jogging, best outcome
Least probability of seeing him
Evening attack
Ring on the doorbell
Cause a scene outside to lure him
Night Attack
Door is wooden and swings into house could be kicked in
Also glass next to lock open from through that
Mr Little said Ali is accused of “scoping out” Gove’s home, identifying the possible points of weakness in his home and times when the MP may be most vulnerable.
Ali conceded in his police interview that he had ditched Gove as a target when he learned of his possible house move in the wake of his divorce.
Fellow Conservative MP Mike Freer is also believed to have been targeted by Ali, who is accused of visiting his constituency office in September last year.
Jurors heard Ali’s internet history includes visits to the Wikipedia pages of Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Richard Fuller MP, and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.
He had a picture of terrorist attacker Khairi Saadallah, who killed three people in a Reading park, and there was evidence of research of the Conservative Party conference, Number 10 Downing Street, and former Chancellor Nigel Lawson.
Ali, from Kentish Town, denies murder and engaging in preparation of terrorist acts.
The trial continues.
