London (SD) – Ali Harbi Ali, a 25-year-old Somali-British man, has been formally charged with the stabbing of UK MP David Amess to death on Friday at a meeting in his constituency.

Ali, who was arrested last Friday at the scene of the murder in Leigh-on-Sea in east London, is also facing a second charge of preparing for an act of terrorism.

“We will submit to the court that this murder has a terrorist connection, namely that it had both religious and ideological motivations.” Said Nick Price, from the Crown Prosecution Service.

Ali appeared in court in central London today, and only spoke to confirm his name, age and address.

Prosecutor James Cable told the court that Ali Harbi Ali, , was an ISIS supporter who had for years planned to kill a member of Parliament.

“Ali considered himself affiliated to Islamic State,” Cable told the court.

Nice Price, head of the criminal and anti-terrorism unit of the Royal Prosecution Service, said lawyers would prove that Amess’s killing was linked to terrorism, and had full evidence to the contrary.