A jury at Preston Crown Court convicted Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, of preparing terrorist acts aimed at inflicting massive harm on the Jewish community in Greater Manchester.
The men orchestrated an ISIS-inspired scheme to import firearms into the UK, believing they collaborated with a like-minded associate named Farouk—who was, in reality, an undercover police officer.
Authorities also found Saadaoui’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, guilty of withholding knowledge about terrorist activities. The plot unfolded from December 13, 2023, to May 9, 2024, with Walid Saadaoui residing in Abram, Wigan, and Hussein lacking a fixed address.
Prosecutors revealed that the conspirators sought weapons and ammunition to assault large gatherings of Jewish individuals, scouting neighborhoods in Greater Manchester with significant Jewish populations. They also planned to eliminate any intervening police or law enforcement personnel. Investigators uncovered the scheme through intercepted communications with the undercover operative, enabling police to intervene effectively.
The operative, posing as Farouk, promised to smuggle the arms from Europe. On May 8, 2024, officers arrested Walid Saadaoui in a Bolton hotel parking lot, discovering two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol, and almost 200 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle. Counter-terrorism units emphasized their full control over the weapon supply chain to safeguard the public. Hussein and Bilel Saadaoui faced arrest shortly afterward at separate locations.
Evidence showed Walid Saadaoui intended to sacrifice himself in the attack, having drafted a will and entrusted his brother with access to his possessions, including substantial cash reserves for his family’s support. Although Bilel Saadaoui did not directly participate, he awareness of the plot and endorsed Islamic State ideologies.
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