An undercover police officer posing as an Islamic State supporter helped thwart a plot to massacre Jews in Manchester, a court has heard. Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in the UK.
Saadaoui, a former holiday entertainer from Tunisia who later became a restaurateur and bird keeper in the UK, had secretly pledged allegiance to Islamic State. Along with Hussein, he planned a devastating assault on Greater Manchester’s Jewish community. Unbeknown to them, a fellow IS supporter involved in their plot, codenamed ‘Farouk’, was an undercover police officer.
The plot was uncovered through a sting operation, as reported by The Guardian’s community affairs correspondent, Chris Osuh. Saadaoui’s younger brother, Bilel Saadaoui, was jailed for six years for failing to disclose information about the plan.
The case has highlighted the ongoing threat to Jewish communities in the UK and the crucial role of undercover operations in preventing attacks.
