Two men have been found guilty of plotting what could have been the deadliest terrorist attack in British history, targeting Manchester's Jewish community in an Islamic State-inspired massacre.
Fanatics Foiled by Undercover Operative
Walid Saadaoui, 38, of Abram, Wigan, and Amar Hussein, 52, were convicted at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday, 23 December 2025, following a trial that began in October. They were found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between 13 December 2023 and 9 May 2024. Their plans involved purchasing firearms, conducting reconnaissance, and formulating detailed attack strategies.
A third defendant, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, the brother of Walid, was also found guilty by a majority jury verdict of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, head of Counter Terrorism Policing in the north west, stated the plot's potential scale was unprecedented. "Ultimately, the plans that Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were making had they come to fruition would have resulted in what's highly likely to be if not the deadliest terror attack in UK history," he explained, while emphasising the operation ensured they "were never ever going to get anywhere near being able to achieve that."
From Social Media Hate to Deadly Reconnaissance
The plot was uncovered and thwarted thanks to a courageous undercover police operative, known only as 'Farouk' during the trial for his protection. Posing as a fellow IS supporter named Abu Bilal, he infiltrated Saadaoui's circle after the Tunisian-born former holiday camp entertainer began posting virulent anti-Semitic content and praising Islamic State online.
Saadaoui, who 'hero-worshipped' Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the mastermind of the 2015 Paris attacks, was recorded discussing targeting a pro-Israel march and specific Jewish locations. He even infiltrated a 'Manchester Jewish Community' Facebook group by falsely claiming to be a synagogue member who had recently moved to the area.
On 16 March 2024, Saadaoui and Hussein were captured on police surveillance conducting reconnaissance at the port of Dover, where they believed weapons would be smuggled. The following day, Saadaoui gave Farouk a chilling tour of potential targets in Cheetham Hill, Higher Broughton, and Prestwich, pointing out schools, synagogues, shops, and a supermarket where he discussed opening fire on shoppers.
Potential targets discussed included:
- Lubavitch Boys School and King David Schools
- Multiple synagogues including Lubavitch and Holy Law
- Bnei Akiva youth club and Habonim nursery
- A talk featuring Countdown presenter Rachel Riley
The Final Sting and Dramatic Arrests
The plot reached its climax on 8 May 2024. Believing Farouk was arriving with a carload of weapons smuggled from Dover, Saadaoui went to a car park at The Last Drop hotel near Bolton for the handover. In reality, the boot contained deactivated weapons placed there by police as part of the sting. Saadaoui was arrested after attempting to flee, with body-cam footage capturing his capture.
Police searches revealed the extent of his preparations. At his home in Wigan, officers found a safe containing £74,000 in cash buried in concrete. He had also written a will and arranged driving lessons for his wife, which prosecutors argued showed he was preparing for martyrdom.
During the trial, Saadaoui claimed he was being pressured by Islamic State and intended to sabotage the plot, labelling himself a hard-working family man. The prosecution dismissed him as a "shameless liar," noting the IS figure he claimed was threatening him had long been dead.
Hussein, a Kuwaiti national originally from Kurdish Iraq, barely attended court after being repeatedly thrown out for outbursts. In police interviews, he openly admitted to being a terrorist, stating: "Terrorism is our religion… we are proud."
Bravery That Saved Lives
Following the verdicts, authorities praised the undercover operative, Farouk, whose evidence was crucial. ACC Potts said: "There was very real risk and danger for Farouk who undoubtedly saved lives. I cannot overemphasise his courage, bravery and professionalism."
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS's special crime and counter-terrorism division, added: "The investigation and prosecution deployed a highly trained witness who made sure their plot did not succeed and secured valuable evidence directly from the mouths of the terrorists. They laid bare their intention to destroy lives, their long-held attitudes and beliefs as well as their Isis credentials."
The jury's verdicts mark the end of a major counter-terrorism operation that prevented a planned massacre aimed at one of the UK's largest Jewish communities, potentially averting the most lethal terrorist attack the country has ever faced.
