Moroccan asylum-seeker, 45, who murdered random pensioner, 70, he met in the street was inspired by Hamas' October 7 attack - and 'swore by Allah if he'd had a machine gun he would have killed more', court told

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An Islamic extremist was inspired by the Hamas slaughter in Israel to murder a pensioner he came across in the street at random, a court heard today.

Asylum seeker Ahmed Alid, 45, began his knife rampage by trying to stab his housemate, who had converted from being a Muslim to Christianity, to death as he slept.

Despite being repeatedly stabbed, Javed Nouri, a fellow asylum seeker who had reported Alid to the police two days earlier, fought for his life and another housemate managed to disarm the attacker, Teesside Crown Court was told.

As police headed to the house in Hartlepool, Alid walked into town openly carrying a second knife.

He came across Terence Carney, 70, and launched a deadly and unprovoked attack at 5.30am, the jury heard.

Ahmed Alid is accused of murdering Terence Carney in an unprovoked attack in Hartlepool

Alid also tried to knife his housemate on the same day outside this house in Wharton Terrace 

Jonathan Sandiford, KC, prosecuting, told the court Mr Carney was 'pushed or stabbed to the ground' before Alid continued stabbing him repeatedly. The pensioner was 'effectively defenceless' and crying out 'no, no.'

CCTV footage showing Alid strolling up to Mr Carney and attacking him in the middle of the deserted street was played to the jury along with audio of the attack with groans and shouts.

Alid left him for dead and Mr Carney managed to stagger a short distance before collapsing and dying in the street, the court heard.

Mr Carney, who was in the habit of going for an early morning walk, had been stabbed six times, including through the heart, said Mr Sandiford.

Alid was arrested by police a short time later. He had suffered a cut hand and said but for his injuries he would have continued what he called 'the raid' and killed more people.

The murder happened last October, eight days after Hamas terrorists murdered hundreds of Israelis.

Asked to explain his actions, he told police it was to do with the independence of Palestine and forcing the 'brutal Israeli coloniser' out.

During his interview Alid believed he had killed both his victims and told officers he had killed two adults in revenge for the killing of children by Israel.

The scene on Wharton Terrace in Hartlepool following the incident where a police cordon was put in place 

Mr Sandiford said: 'The defendant swore by Allah that, if he had had a machine gun, and more weapons, he would have killed more victims.'

He said Carney was killed because Britain had created Israel and should make it leave, commenting: 'They killed children and I killed an old man.'

The court heard Alid regarded Christian convert Mr Nouri as an 'apostate who deserved to die' for turning his back on the Muslim faith.

The court heard during the interview became 'angry' and blocked the door to stop two female officers leaving. He grabbed hold of one of them and all three fell to the floor before other officers entered and restrained Alid, said Mr Sandiford.

Alid denies murder, attempted murder and assaulting both police officers.

The court heard Alid was a 'quite strict Muslim' and followed an 'extreme interpretation of Islam.'

Mr Sandiford told the jury on 7th October last year – the day Hamas 'launched attacks in Israel' – Alid 'paid particular attention to these attacks'.

By this time the defendant was 'keeping a knife with him' and threatening Mr Nouri and others in the house who were afraid of him, the court heard.

Alid was warned by housing managers if would have to leave if his 'behaviour continued in this way.'

On the advice of friends at the church Mr Nouri reported his concerns to police on 9th October and returned to speak to police again on 13th October.

Mr Sandiford said: 'The police rightly or wrongly took the view the defendant had not committed an offence and there would be no further action taken by the police at that stage.'

The court heard these complaints lodged by Mr Nouri gave Alid an 'additional motive' to attack him.

Two days later at 5am that is what he did.

Mr Nouri was woken by Alid kicking in his bedroom door and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' or 'God is Great', said Mr Sandiford.

The housemate was stabbed in the chest and shouted: 'What are you doing?'

Mr Nouri was stabbed in the chest, leg and mouth.

Mr Sandiford said: 'At this stage Mr Nouri realised he couldn't simply escape and would have to fight.'

Housemates arrived to disarm Alid and Mr Nouri, who was bigger than the attacker, was able to force him out of the room.

Sounds of the attack were captured on a 999 call by one of the housemates that was played in court.

Mr Nouri was taken to hospital with six stab wounds and survived.

Police sent to the house in Wharton Terrace, Hartlepool, came across Mr Carney lying dying in the street. Attempts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead.

The judge Mrs Cheema-Grubb told the jury it was unlikely the defendant would dispute he carried out the attacks but the 'central issue' was 'what was his intention when he did what he was alleged to have done.'

The case continues.