Two Men Convicted Over Islamic State Inspired Plot Targeting Jews

A jury at Preston Crown Court has convicted Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein of preparing acts of terrorism in a plot prosecutors say was inspired by the ideology of the so called Islamic State group and aimed at killing hundreds of people. A third defendant, Bilel Saadaoui, was found guilty of failing to disclose information about the plot after investigators concluded he knew of his brother’s plans but was not involved in operational steps.

Prosecutors described a scheme that moved beyond rhetoric to concrete preparation, including plans to smuggle firearms into the United Kingdom, reconnaissance in areas with large Jewish populations and communications that expressed strong hostility toward Jewish people. Evidence presented to the jury included WhatsApp messages, surveillance imagery, travel records and other material that prosecutors said demonstrated intent and capability. Police released images showing the principal defendants photographed near Dover, which investigators said formed part of reconnaissance into possible routes for bringing weapons into the country.

The court heard that the men believed they were dealing with an associate known to them as Farouk, who in fact was an undercover operative. That operation was central to the case, helping to establish the steps the defendants took to source weapons and monitor their arrival. Prosecutors also relied on communications records and material seized during raids on four addresses in Wigan and Bolton when the three men were arrested on May 8, 2024.

Walid Saadaoui was reported at conviction as aged 38 and linked to Abram near Wigan in Greater Manchester. Amar Hussein, aged 52 and described in Crown Prosecution Service material as Syrian, was recorded as having no fixed address during the trial. Bilel Saadaoui, aged 36 and identified as the younger brother of Walid, lives in Hindley, Wigan. Earlier charging paperwork contained inconsistent references to the defendants’ nationalities, with some material recording Tunisian origins, but court reporting at conviction followed CPS descriptions.

The charges brought against the pair included preparation of terrorist acts under provisions cited in earlier charging documents, including Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Prosecutors told the court the plan had the potential to become one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom had it not been disrupted. Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service characterised the convictions as the result of sustained counterterrorism work that prevented mass casualties.

The case highlights continuing challenges for British security services in countering ideologically driven violence that draws on international extremist propaganda while exploiting local networks and transnational smuggling channels. It also raises urgent questions for community leaders, law enforcement and policymakers about protecting vulnerable communities, disrupting supply lines for weapons and countering the online narratives that can transform grievance into plotted violence. Sentencing hearings are expected to follow, as authorities consider both punishment and strategies to deter similar conspiracies in the future.