A covert counter-terrorism operation has thwarted an Isis-inspired plot targeting the Jewish community in Manchester, leading to the conviction of three men, British authorities have said.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the plot, led by Walid Saadaoui, could have resulted in mass casualties and potentially been one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in UK history if it had not been disrupted early.
The case centred on an undercover operative known as “Farouk,” who infiltrated extremist networks online and in person. Acting as a trusted associate, the operative gathered evidence that exposed plans to smuggle military-grade weapons into the UK and carry out a gun attack aimed at causing widespread harm.
At Preston Crown Court, Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism between December 13, 2023, and May 9, 2024. Saadaoui’s younger brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, was convicted of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.
Police said Saadaoui, originally from Tunisia and living in Abram, Wigan, was the main instigator. Prosecutors told the court that he and Hussein harboured deep hostility towards Jewish people and believed they were coordinating their plans with a fellow extremist, unaware that the individual was an undercover operative.
Investigators revealed that Saadaoui sought to smuggle four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition into the country. He paid a deposit in advance and explored supply routes through Sweden and eastern Europe. He was also found to have purchased an air weapon and attended a shooting range.
The operation reached a critical point on May 8, 2024, when Saadaoui was arrested in a hotel car park in Bolton while attempting to collect firearms from a vehicle. Prosecutors said two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol and nearly 200 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Counter-terrorism police confirmed they had maintained control of the weapons throughout the operation to ensure public safety.
Hussein, a Kuwaiti national who lived and worked in Bolton, and Bilel Saadaoui were arrested shortly afterwards at separate locations.
Evidence before the court showed that Saadaoui had embraced martyrdom ideology and was preparing for death. He had written a will, handed over access to his belongings and left large sums of cash with his brother to support his family.
Authorities first became aware of Saadaoui after he used multiple fake Facebook accounts to spread extremist content. Through one account, he joined the Facebook group of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, which shared information about a “March Against Antisemitism” held in January 2024.
In messages to the undercover operative, Saadaoui spoke of attacking Manchester’s Jewish community and later recruited Hussein to assist with the plot. Both men travelled to Dover in March 2024 to conduct reconnaissance on how weapons could be smuggled through the port.
Following the convictions, GMP Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts said Saadaoui was driven by a desire to cause maximum casualties, adding that he dismissed less sophisticated attacks as inadequate.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, said the case highlighted the critical role of undercover operations in preventing attacks before lives are lost, describing the plot as deeply disturbing and inspired by extremist ideology.
