Two men have been convicted in England for plotting an Islamic State–inspired terrorist attack aimed at Jewish communities in the north-west of the country, a plan that prosecutors said was intended to kill hundreds of people.
Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were found guilty of making preparations to commit a large-scale terrorist attack following a trial at Preston Crown Court that concluded today. A third man, Walid Saadaoui’s younger brother Bilel Saadaoui, 36, was convicted of failing to disclose information he knew about the plot to the authorities.
The court heard that Walid Saadaoui planned to smuggle a significant cache of military-grade weapons into the UK, including four AK-47 assault rifles, two pistols, and approximately 900 rounds of ammunition. He paid a deposit for the weapons in February 2024. Prosecutors said his intention was to use the firearms to carry out an attack on a mass march against antisemitism in Manchester city centre, before moving on to target an area of north Manchester with a large Jewish population.
Amar Hussein, who was known to be a supporter of Islamic State ideology, was recruited to assist with the plan. The plot included preparations to kill police officers or other law enforcement personnel who might attempt to intervene during the attack.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Walid Saadaoui carried out reconnaissance of potential targets across Greater Manchester. He and Hussein also travelled to the port of Dover in March and again in May 2024 to survey the area. In May, they believed they were observing the weapons being transported into the UK by vehicle. Between December 2023 and May 2024, the two men also secured and equipped a safe house, intended for storing the weapons that would be used in the planned attack.
Bilel Saadaoui was described as his brother’s confidant, with the two men spending many hours together. He shared his brother’s extremist beliefs and support for ISIS but was unwilling to take part directly in an attack on UK soil. Instead, he agreed to support Walid Saadaoui’s family after his expected death. As part of this arrangement, Bilel Saadaoui held a key to a safe containing £70,000 belonging to his brother and possessed a copy of his brother’s will. Prosecutors said this was intended to prevent Walid Saadaoui’s assets from being seized by police following the attack. By withholding information from authorities, Bilel Saadaoui denied them the opportunity to disrupt the plot.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the case revealed an exceptionally serious threat.
“This was a deeply disturbing plot inspired by extremist ideology,” Ferguson said. “Had these terrorists succeeded, it would have led to mass murder and been one of the deadliest attacks on Jewish communities in this country.”
He added that the investigation relied on a highly trained covert witness who was able to prevent the plot from being carried out while gathering critical evidence directly from the defendants themselves.
“This laid bare their intention to destroy lives, their long-held attitudes and beliefs, as well as their ISIS credentials,” Ferguson said. “We worked closely with counter-terrorism officers to ensure the strongest possible case was built from the outset and presented in court to the jury, resulting in these convictions.”
Ferguson concluded by emphasising the broader significance of the case, stating: “Terrorism is an attack on the very fabric of our society. We will always use the law to protect communities from harm and relentlessly hold offenders to account, making sure they face the toughest legal consequences for their actions.”