Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for plotting a terrorist attack targeting Greater Manchester's Jewish community, which was thwarted by an undercover operative. Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted of preparing acts of terrorism between December 2023 and May 2024.
Saadaoui, a Tunisian-born former restaurant owner from Abram, Wigan, was ordered to serve a minimum of 37 years. Hussein, a Kuwaiti national of no fixed address, received a minimum term of 26 years. Saadaoui's brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 37, of Hindley, Wigan, was sentenced to six years for failing to disclose information about the plot.
The court heard the pair had sworn allegiance to Islamic State and planned to use semi-automatic rifles and pistols to attack an antisemitism march in Manchester city centre before targeting Jewish schools, nurseries, and synagogues in the Prestwich and Higher Broughton areas. The weapons were provided by an undercover operative known as Farouk, who infiltrated jihadist networks.
Saadaoui conducted reconnaissance on Jewish institutions and a safe house was acquired in Bolton for storing weapons. The pair also travelled to Dover to assess how to smuggle weapons through the port. The plot was disrupted on 8 May 2024 when Saadaoui was arrested in Bolton car park attempting to take possession of the deactivated weapons.
Mr Justice Wall stated that if successful, the attack 'would likely have been one of the deadliest terror attacks ever carried out on British soil,' with potential for mass casualties. Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts praised the undercover operative for saving lives, while Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson highlighted the disproportionate fear Jewish communities endure.
