Two Individuals Sentenced to 63 Years for Planning Attack on UK Jewish Community

Two extremists have been sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to commit a mass shooting aimed at Jewish individuals in Greater Manchester, inspired by Islamic State ideology.

Walid Saadaoui, aged 38, and 52-year-old Amar Hussein were found guilty of planning these acts of terrorism from December 13, 2023, to May 9, 2024. Prosecutors indicated that both men harbored intense animosity towards Jewish communities and aimed to inflict significant harm during a large public gathering where Countdown presenter Rachel Riley was scheduled to appear.

Saadaoui received a life sentence with a minimum of 37 years, while Hussein's sentence requires a minimum of 26 years behind bars.

Evidence presented in court revealed that both men adhered to extremist beliefs associated with Islamic State. Saadaoui, identified as the primary instigator, attempted to acquire four AK-47 rifles, two handguns, and 900 rounds of ammunition to facilitate the planned attack.

Authorities had previously flagged Saadaoui for utilizing multiple Facebook accounts to disseminate extremist propaganda. After enlisting Hussein, a national from Kuwait, the duo journeyed to Dover in March 2024 to explore potential methods for smuggling firearms into the UK.

The conspiracy was derailed on May 8, 2024, with the two men unintentionally sharing their intentions with an undercover agent who had infiltrated radical online circles, posing as a compatriot.

Saadaoui, a father of two from Tunisia, was apprehended in a hotel car park in Bolton while trying to retrieve firearms he had arranged to purchase, having already made a deposit.

While no specific date had been set for the execution of their attack, prosecutors indicated it was meant to coincide with a march against antisemitism planned in the Manchester area.

While delivering the sentences, Justice Wall emphasized the potential catastrophic outcomes of their intended attack, stating, "I am confident this plan would have resulted in numerous fatalities and severe injuries to many more. Your scheme involved you and two others firing AK-47s into a defenseless crowd of marchers."

Justice Wall added, "You had the capacity to discharge 120 bullets without needing to reload. Your preparation included readily available spare magazines, leading to a situation where people of all ages, including children, could lose their lives."

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson remarked that the case highlights the grave threats facing Jewish communities. He stressed, "We are witnessing hatred manifesting globally, posing a risk to everyone. This threat endangers our Jewish populations, and if they are vulnerable, we are all at risk."