Two men inspired by the Islamic State group have been found guilty of plotting what police described as the potential “deadliest terrorist attack in UK history,” targeting the Jewish community in Greater Manchester. Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted on Tuesday at Preston Crown Court of preparing acts of terrorism between December 13, 2023, and May 9, 2024. A jury found that the pair planned a mass-casualty suicide-style attack using high-powered firearms, with Jewish targets as their primary focus. The court heard that the men viewed the killing of Christians as “a bonus.”
A third man, Saadaoui’s younger brother Bilel Saadaoui, 36, of Wigan, was convicted of failing to disclose information about the terror plot.
Weapons And attack planning
Prosecutors said Walid Saadaoui, a father of two originally from Tunisia, attempted to acquire four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and up to 1,200 rounds of ammunition. He paid a €5,000 deposit believing he had secured the weapons through an extremist contact known as “Farouk,” who was in fact an undercover officer.
Saadaoui also explored alternative routes to obtain firearms from eastern Europe and Sweden, purchased an air weapon, and visited a shooting range as part of his preparations. The court was told that an attack in a crowded area frequented by Manchester’s Jewish community would have had “catastrophic” consequences.
Amar Hussein, of no fixed address, supported the plot and shared extremist ideology with Saadaoui. Both men were said to be motivated by anger over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
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Admiration For Past Terror Attacks
The prosecution revealed that Saadaoui “hero-worshipped” Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the mastermind behind the 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130 people. Saadaoui allegedly wanted to replicate similar marauding gun attacks in the UK.
A former owner of an Italian restaurant in a Norfolk seaside town, Saadaoui sold his business, moved north, and used proceeds from the sale of his home to finance the planned attack. He conducted surveillance in Manchester with the undercover officer and discussed targeting schools and public gatherings. In chilling evidence presented to the court, Saadaoui was recorded saying he wanted to kill “young, old, women, elderly, the whole lot.”
Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said the convictions had prevented an unprecedented atrocity. “This was a highly credible and advanced plot that could have resulted in the deadliest terrorist attack this country has ever seen,” he said, praising the work of counter-terror officers and intelligence agencies.