Two men have been sentenced to life in prison after plotting a deadly attack on the Jewish community in Manchester, which authorities described as potentially “the UK’s most deadly terror attack.”
Plot Foiled by Undercover Operative
Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, aimed to smuggle firearms into the UK as part of an Isis-inspired plot. They were intercepted by an undercover agent who played a crucial role in stopping the attack. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the operation prevented what could have been a large-scale tragedy.
Saadaoui received a minimum prison term of 37 years, while Hussein was sentenced to at least 26 years behind bars.
Attack Plan Revealed in Court
During sentencing, Mr Justice Wall said the plan would have caused numerous deaths and severe injuries. The men intended to fire AK-47 rifles into an unarmed crowd during a march. Court documents revealed that they planned to carry spare magazines, potentially discharging 120 bullets before reloading.
The judge emphasized that the attack could have killed people of all ages, including children.
Weapons Acquisition and Online Activity
Saadaoui, originally from Tunisia and living in Abram, Wigan, sought to import four AK-47 rifles, two handguns, and 900 rounds of ammunition. He had made a deposit for the weapons and believed he was coordinating with a like-minded extremist named Farouk, who was actually an undercover operative.
He also considered obtaining firearms independently from Sweden and Eastern Europe. In addition, Saadaoui purchased an air weapon and visited a shooting range to further his plans.
Authorities discovered him after he used ten different Facebook accounts, none under his own name, to spread extremist content online.
Lessons and Implications
Police said this case highlights the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and the importance of undercover operations in preventing mass casualties.
