Counter-terrorism police have foiled a chilling ISIS-inspired plot to massacre Jewish people in Manchester, with one of the conspirators' brothers convicted for failing to alert authorities. Bilel Saadaoui, 36, faces a decade in prison after being found guilty of withholding information about the planned attack orchestrated by his brother, Walid Saadaoui, 38, and accomplice Amar Hussein, 52.
The Plot to Target Manchester's Jewish Community
Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein now face life sentences after being convicted of preparing acts of terrorism. The court heard their plan was conceived as 'revenge' for Israel's military actions in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas incursion. The pair intended to gun down participants at a march against antisemitism in Manchester before targeting schools and synagogues within the city's Jewish community. This planned atrocity bore a sinister resemblance to the Bondi Beach attack in Australia earlier this year.
Bilel Saadaoui, a Tunisian-born discount store worker from Hindley, Greater Manchester, was aware of the plot. He had even sent supportive messages to his older brother, including one on the day Walid went to collect weapons intended for the summer 2024 attack, which read: 'May Allah Safeguard you.'
The Dramatic Gym Arrest Caught on Camera
The plot unravelled after Walid Saadaoui confided in a man he knew as 'Farouk', who he believed would help him secure automatic weapons. In reality, 'Farouk' was an undercover police officer. This led to a major operation on May 8 last year, involving up to 200 officers across the North.
Exclusive footage obtained by the Mail shows the moment Bilel Saadaoui was arrested. Plain clothes officers, armed with Glock 9mm pistols, swooped on The Warehouse Gym in Hindley as Bilel worked out with his then-16-year-old stepson. He was pinned to the ground in his white Lee Cooper t-shirt, watched by stunned gym-goers, before being led outside.
In the released footage, Bilel is seen with his head pinned to a car bonnet and informed he is being arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. He replies, 'OK... on what basis? Are you recording this?' He remained at the scene for almost three minutes, staring at his reflection in the bonnet, still wearing his thick weightlifting gloves.
Evidence of Extremist Sympathies Unveiled in Court
During the 11-week trial at Preston Crown Court, prosecutors alleged Bilel Saadaoui expressed sympathy for ISIS. Evidence presented included:
- A video on his phone showing his stepson firing a BB gun at targets while a pro-ISIS 'nasheed' (Islamic religious song) played.
- Compilation videos of himself working out, set to nasheeds referencing 'jihad' and supporting Islamic State.
- A photograph from January 2024 showing Bilel and his stepson, bare-chested and armed with swords, which he dismissed as 'dress up'.
Bilel denied supporting Islamic State, claiming he did not understand the lyrics of the songs. He also stated he had been given a copy of his brother's will and the key to a hidden safe. Police found two safes at Walid's home containing £92,000 in cash and another copy of the will.
The jury took just one hour to convict all three men. Bilel was found guilty of failing to disclose terrorist acts, while Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were convicted of preparing terrorist acts.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts of Counter Terrorism Policing North West stated: 'Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein intended to target members of the Jewish community in an evil act born out of hate and intolerance. If they had been successful then what followed would have been devastating.' Regarding Bilel, he added: 'He knew what was planned but chose to remain silent and that is simply not good enough.'
All three men have been remanded and are scheduled for sentencing at Preston Crown Court on February 13 next year.
