By Ginika Igboke
Two men have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being convicted of plotting a large-scale terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community in England, in what prosecutors described as a potentially catastrophic act of violence inspired by the Islamic State group.
Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted at Preston Crown Court following a trial that began just days after an unrelated deadly attack on a synagogue in the nearby city of Manchester. Authorities said the timing of the trial underscored the seriousness of the threat posed by the defendants and heightened concerns about extremist violence targeting religious communities.
Prosecutors told the court that Saadaoui and Hussein were committed Islamist extremists who planned to use automatic firearms to carry out a mass shooting designed to kill as many Jewish people as possible. Investigators uncovered evidence that the pair had taken concrete steps toward executing their plan, including discussing targets and acquiring resources, indicating that the attack was not merely ideological but operationally advanced.
During sentencing, Judge Mark Wall said the men were “very close to being ready to carry out this plan,” emphasizing that the threat they posed was immediate and severe. He sentenced Saadaoui to a minimum term of 37 years in prison and Hussein to a minimum term of 26 years, reflecting the gravity of their intent and the scale of the potential harm.
Authorities said the plot could have resulted in casualties on a scale rivaling or exceeding recent mass attacks, including the deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December. Security officials praised the investigation that led to the pair’s arrest, noting that early intervention likely prevented a major loss of life.
The case has renewed calls for vigilance against extremist violence and for continued cooperation between intelligence agencies and local communities to identify and disrupt terror plots before they can be carried out.
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