Ahmed Alid: Asylum seeker sentenced to life for Israel-Hamas 'revenge' terror attack in Hartlepool
A Moroccan asylum seeker who said he was inspired by “revenge” for the Israel-Hamas conflict has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 45 years, for murdering a pensioner in the street.
Ahmed Alid, 45, stabbed Terence Carney, 70, six times in Hartlepool town centre early on 15 October last year – eight days after Hamas attacked Israel.
At around 5am, minutes earlier, the 45-year-old broke into the locked bedroom of his housemate Javed Nouri and hacked at him while he slept.
Last month Alid was convicted after a trial of the murder of Mr Carney, the attempted murder of Mr Nouri, and assaulting two detectives.
On Friday 17 May, Alid was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court to 19 years, 52 days for the attempted murder of Javed Nouri. This will be served concurrently, for the murder of Terence Carney, which he will serve 44 years and 52 days.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb declared: "No period of incarceration will be equivalent to the life he has taken."
The judge said Alid "attacked and murdered Terrence Carney in a terrorist attack" and told him: "You intended to intimidate and influence the British government" on their international policy regarding Israel and Palestine.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb told Alid at his sentencing that he wanted to "frighten the people of Britain", and ordered that he be taken down.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley is Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East who led the investigation, supported by Cleveland Police.
He said: “In this case, it was appropriate that the decision to declare this horrific incident as an act of terrorism was made once all the evidence had been heard by the court.
“The defendant had expressed, during the time of his arrest and whilst in custody, that his actions were inspired by the Israel-Hamas conflict. He appeared to have developed a fixation with the events there.
“International conflicts can create a mix of outrage, grief and grievance which has the potential to galvanise those with an extremist or potentially extremist mind-set to take action. Sadly, as we have seen in this case, it can have devastating consequences.
“Nothing can justify the actions of the defendant that day. I have no doubt that the bravery of the Cleveland officers involved in the initial response prevented further harm or loss of life that morning. Today’s sentence reflects the shocking and horrendous nature of the crimes this man has committed.
“I again wish to pass on our deepest sympathies to Mr Carney’s family. Throughout the months following the incident, and during the trial, they have shown great dignity. We ask that their wishes are respected, and they are given the time to grieve in private.”
More to follow.
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