In a shocking turn of events, a Moroccan asylum seeker, Ahmed Alid, has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder in connection with a violent rampage that occurred following the Israel-Hamas war triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The 45-year-old Alid was convicted on Thursday for fatally stabbing a 70-year-old man, Terence Carney, in the streets of Hartlepool, an English seaside town.

The disturbing incident, which took place on Oct. 15, unfolded just minutes after Alid attacked a sleeping housemate while proclaiming "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great" in Arabic. Alid, reflecting on the Hamas attacks that occurred eight days prior, revealed to the police that his brutal actions were carried out "for the people of Gaza." He even expressed the intent to cause more harm if he had access to a machine gun and other weapons, according to prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford in Teesside Crown Court.

Furthermore, Alid was also found guilty of attempted murder for the assault on Javed Nouri, a fellow resident in the same house who had converted to Christianity, much to Alid's displeasure. Alid's housemates had informed the authorities that he had started carrying a knife after watching televised coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the subsequent bombing of Gaza by Israel. Alarming his housemate Nouri, Alid would laugh while witnessing footage of killings carried out by Hamas, leading to Nouri's growing concern about Alid's behavior.

Nouri, deeply disturbed by Alid's actions, had lodged complaints with housing officials, the Home Office, and the police. Alid had received warnings that he could potentially lose his housing due to his behavior. Nonetheless, Alid justified his heinous act by blaming Britain for the creation of the "Zionist entity" of Israel and accusing Israel of killing innocent children.

During his interview with two female detectives, Alid became agitated and attacked them. Unfortunately, the panic button in the interview room failed to work correctly, and only with the assistance of Alid's defense lawyer, who phoned an emergency number for help, were other officers able to intervene. As a result, Alid faced additional counts for assaulting the officers.

Throughout the trial, Alid vehemently denied the charges against him. While he acknowledged his involvement in the stabbings, he claimed that he had no intention of causing serious harm or taking someone's life.

Alid's sentencing has been scheduled for May 17. This distressing case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that acts of violence and extremism can have on innocent lives, while also highlighting the importance of vigilance and timely intervention in identifying and addressing potential threats within communities.