2 Stopped From Potential Attacks in Manchester

Two men were jailed for life after planning an attack targeting the Jewish community in Manchester.

Police said the plot could have been “the UK’s most deadly terror attack.”

Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, arranged for firearms to be smuggled into the UK in what prosecutors described as an Isis-inspired plot.

The case was heard at Preston Crown Court.

An undercover operative played a crucial role in uncovering and preventing the plan.

Saadaoui received a minimum term of 37 years; Hussein received a minimum term of 26 years.

Prosecutors said the pair planned to carry out a gun attack on a march against antisemitism in Manchester by the end of summer 2024.

They allegedly intended to continue the attack in north Manchester after targeting the march.

No specific site or date for the attack was confirmed in court.

The judge said the plan involved firing AK-47 rifles into a large crowd of unarmed civilians.

Police recovered two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol and nearly 200 rounds of ammunition from a vehicle at the time of Saadaoui’s arrest.

Saadaoui, from Abram, Wigan, attempted to arrange the importation of four AK-47 rifles, two handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition.

He paid a deposit for the weapons and believed he was working with an extremist contact who was in fact an undercover officer.

Saadaoui also explored obtaining firearms via Sweden and eastern Europe, purchased an air weapon and visited a shooting range.

Counter-terrorism officers arrested Saadaoui on 8 May 2024 in a hotel car park in Bolton during an operation involving more than 200 officers.

Hussein and Saadaoui’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, were arrested shortly afterwards at separate locations.

Evidence showed Walid Saadaoui had prepared a will and left money for his family, indicating he intended to die in the attack.

Authorities first identified Saadaoui after he used multiple fake Facebook accounts to post extremist content.

He accessed information about a “March Against Antisemitism” held in Manchester city centre on 21 January 2024.

The judge commended the undercover operative for bravery and professionalism.

Hussein, a Kuwaiti national, assisted with planning and reconnaissance.

The pair travelled to Dover in March 2024 to assess how weapons might be smuggled into the UK.

Saadaoui conducted surveillance in Prestwich and Higher Broughton, focusing on Jewish nurseries, schools, synagogues and businesses.

Bilel Saadaoui knew about the plot and shared extremist views but was not involved in planning the attack.

WhatsApp messages presented at trial showed antisemitic content exchanged between the men.

Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were convicted of preparing acts of terrorism between 13 December 2023 and 9 May 2024.

Bilel Saadaoui, 36, was convicted of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism and was sentenced to six years in prison.