Three men were jailed for involvement and knowledge of a plot to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired attack on the Jewish community in England, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced on Saturday.
The plot, if successful, would have been “one of the deadliest terrorist attacks to ever take place on UK soil,” according to GMP Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts.
Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were both found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism after a trial at Preston Crown Court and were sentenced to minimum sentences of 37 and 26 years, respectively.
Saadaoui’s younger brother, Bilel Saadaoui, was additionally found guilty of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism and was sentenced to six years in prison.
According to GMP, Saadaoui masterminded the plot and recruited Hussein to participate.
In late 2023, Saadaoui came into contact online with an individual he believed to be a fellow extremist, and after multiple messages were exchanged between the two, “it soon became clear that Saadaoui was keen to conduct a significant terrorist attack targeting Jewish people,” GMP stated.
Saadaoui believed the individual could help him import automatic firearms to use in the terrorist attack and began developing the plot, going so far as to “conduct reconnaissance around Upper Broughton in Salford” and visit the port through which they believed the weapons would be smuggled.
According to a BBC report, Saadaoui planned to obtain four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns, and 900 rounds of ammunition for the firearms.
The individual sought out by Saadaoui for help with the plot turned out to be an undercover agent who played a “crucial role” in foiling Saadaoui and Hussein’s would-be terrorist attack, according to GMP.
Through Saadaoui’s discussion of the plan with the undercover agent, it became clear to GMP that his younger brother knew about the planned attack, but remained silent, an action Potts stated “makes him as guilty as the others.”
According to the BBC, Saadaoui was arrested by counter-terrorism police on May 8, 2024, in an operation with over 200 officers involved. He was apprehended in the parking lot of a hotel while attempting to collect the firearms he planned to use in the attack.
The BBC additionally reported that Saadaoui came to the attention of authorities when he began using social media accounts to spread Islamist extremist views. He used over ten accounts, none of which were created in his own name.
This is a developing story.
Reuters contributed to this report.