Two men have been found guilty of plotting a devastating Islamic State-inspired gun attack targeting a large gathering of Jewish people in the Greater Manchester area. The chilling plan, which could have resulted in Britain's deadliest terrorist incident, was foiled after the pair unwittingly revealed their scheme to an undercover police officer.
The Plot and the Key Players
Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were driven by what prosecutors described as a 'visceral dislike' of Jewish people. Their ambition was to cause 'untold harm'. The main instigator, Saadaoui, a father-of-two originally from Tunisia, aimed to smuggle a significant arsenal into the UK. This included four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns, and 900 rounds of ammunition.
Months before the planned strike, Saadaoui paid a deposit for these weapons. He believed he was dealing with a like-minded extremist to import them, but this individual was in fact an undercover operative (UCO), known in court as 'Farouk'. Saadaoui had also explored obtaining firearms independently via Sweden and eastern Europe, purchased an air weapon, and visited a shooting range.
Undercover Operation Uncovers Chilling Intent
Saadaoui first came to the attention of authorities through his prolific use of Facebook, where he operated ten accounts under false names to spread Islamic extremist ideology. Undercover officer Farouk was deployed online to gain his trust, a relationship that later developed in person.
Saadaoui's hatred was sharply focused. Using a fake account, he joined the Facebook group of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester. There, he accessed details of a 'March Against Antisemitism' held in the city centre on 21 January last year, which thousands attended. He later told Farouk: 'Here in Manchester, we have the biggest Jewish community... God willing we will degrade and humiliate them... and hit them where it hurts.'
He recruited Hussein, a Kuwaiti national who worked and lived at a furniture shop in Bolton. The pair conducted hostile reconnaissance, travelling to Dover, Kent, in March 2024 to assess how to smuggle weapons through the port. Saadaoui also carried out surveillance on Jewish community sites in north Manchester, including nurseries, schools, synagogues, and shops.
Intervention on 'Strike Day'
Counter-terrorism police intervened on the planned 'strike day' of 8 May last year. More than 200 officers were involved. Saadaoui was arrested at a hotel car park in Bolton as he went to collect what he believed were the firearms, which had been deactivated by authorities. A safe house in Bolton, intended for weapon storage, was also secured.
The court heard that Saadaoui hero-worshipped IS terrorist Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who orchestrated the 2015 Paris attacks. While no specific target or date was finalised, prosecutors said the defendants planned to launch a gun assault on an antisemitism march before heading to north Manchester to kill more Jewish people.
Denials and Convictions
During the trial at Preston Crown Court, Saadaoui denied holding an extreme ideology, claiming he was merely 'playing along' with Farouk and intended to sabotage the plot himself. Hussein claimed the evidence was 'fantasy'. He told detectives: 'Your Government, your Prime Minister has sent weapons to kill our children in Israel. Terrorism is our religion... We are proud.'
However, the jury convicted both men of preparing acts of terrorism between December 2023 and May 2024. Saadaoui's brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plan.
Authorities Hail Undercover Officer's Courage
Following the verdicts, Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts of Greater Manchester Police stated: 'What Walid Saadaoui was trying to achieve... could potentially have been the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history.' He emphasised that Saadaoui sought maximum casualties, dismissing less sophisticated methods. He paid tribute to the undercover officer, Farouk: '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, said: '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.'
