ISIS supporters arrested in Bolton raids jailed for life

Ringleader Walid Saadaoui, 38, planned to shoot countless Jewish people at a march against antisemitism in Manchester before hijacking an ambulance and driving to kill yet more people.

But his plans unravelled after he was arrested in the car park of the Last Drop Village Hotel in Bromley Cross on May 8, 2024 with a car full of AK-47 assault rifles he had planned to use for his attack.

He did not know at the time that one of his co-conspirators, a man known only as “Farouk”, had been an undercover operative who had been monitoring his activities all along.

After having been found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism at a trial at Preston Crown Court last year, Saadaoui was brought back to court this week to learn his fate.

Harpreet Sandhu KC, prosecuting, said: “These defendants were prepared to kill several hundreds of people by using four high-powered, military-grade AK47 assault rifles, two handguns and more than 900 rounds of ammunition.”

He added: “The impact of that which was planned would have been profound, it would have been significant, and it would have been far-reaching.”

Saadaoui sat on the dock dressed in a plain white shirt and tie as Mr Sandhu laid the scale of the plot bare to a packed courtroom at Preston Crown Court.

Saadaoui and Hussein hoped to take part in a huge shooting plot (Image: GMP)

Not with him was his co-conspirator Amar Hussein, 52, who had been arrested at the place he lived and worked at Salim Appliances in Great Lever on the same day as Saadaoui in 2024.

But sat with Saadaoui was his younger brother Bilel, 37, who had been found guilty of failing to disclose information about an act of terrorism.

Mr Sandhu told the court that Saadaoui and Hussein planned to strike “in the heart of the Jewish community in Manchester”.

Saadaoui’s plans included carrying out “reconnaissance” in Jewish areas and joining Jewish community Facebook groups to look for targets.

One of the weapons they planned to use (Image: GMP)

Mr Sandhu quoted Amanda Bomsztyk of the Community Security Trust who said: “The ever-present risk of terrorist attacks posed by antisemitism means that very few Jewish communal events can take place without high-level security”.

Mr Sandhu said Saadaoui had “prepared for martyrdom” by making sure his family were taken care of financially and visiting his mother in Tunisia one last time.

The court heard how Saadaoui had been receiving advice from high-ranking ISIS members and had a key to the group’s safehouse off Chorley Old Road, where he planned to store the weapons.

But the deadly plan never came to pass thanks to undercover operative Farouk, who Saadaoui first met at Queens Park after communicating online and believed to be a fellow ISIS supporter.

Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein in a car (Image: GMP)

Farouk monitored Saadaoui and Hussein’s activities throughout and ensured that the guns they received had been deactivated.

After a lengthy trial last year Saadaoui, of Crankwood Road, Abram and Hussein, of no fixed abode, were both convicted by a jury of preparing acts of terrorism.

Younger brother Bilel, of Fairclough Street, Hindley was found guilty by majority verdict of failing to disclose information about an act of terrorism.

Walid Saadaoui was the ring leader of the plot (Image: GMP)

Dr Felicity Gerry KC, defending Saadaoui, said that “despite asking for weapons Mr Saadaoui was unable to source them without Farouk”.

She said that her client’s role was ultimately less than that of the undercover operative Farouk.

But Dr Gerry said: “Saadaoui had asked her to apologise on his behalf to the Jewish community and the “wider community at large”.

She said this for the antisemitic things he said in recordings of his conversations, though he still denied having prepared terrorist acts. 

Danny Robinson KC, for Hussein, says his client asked him to deliver no mitigation or submissions on his behalf.

Ali Naseem Bajwa KC, for Bilel Saadaoui, said he “had a general idea of terrorist activity” that involved a death and that something significant was going to happen on May 8, 2024.

He said there was “little or no risk” that the terror attack would have been carried out, given that the elder Saadaoui had been seemingly constantly monitored. 

Mr Bajwa told the court Bilel had no previous convictions, had positive character references and that he has “relatives very dear to him”.

But The Honourable Mr Justice Mark Wall reminded the defendants, including Hussein, who he said had shown his “cowardice” by not attending, how devastating the attack would have been.

He said: “I am sure that you intended to use AK47 Kalashnikov automatic weapons to launch a terror attack on the streets of Manchester.”

He added: “Your attack would have led to the deaths of people of all ages, including children.”

Mr Justice Wall said that Saadaoui and Hussein were both “fervent supporters of ISIS” and that their victims would have been “unarmed and defenceless”.

Walid Saadaoui, Amar Hussein and Bilel Saadaoui have all been jailed (Image: GMP)

He said: “Had you been successful in carrying out this plan, this would likely have been one of the deadliest terror attacks ever carried out on UK soil.”

Mr Justice Wall concluded Saadaoui and Hussein had been “very close” to being able to carry out their plan.

He said the date of it appeared to have been whenever the Jewish community of Greater Manchester held their latest march.

Saadaoui showed no visible reaction as Mr Justice Wall sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum term of 37 years.

The absent Hussein was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 26 years.

Bilel Saadaoui has also been jailed (Image: GMP)

Younger brother Bilel was jailed for six years and went down to the cells in silence.

Speaking outside court after the hearing, Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said: “Today’s sentencing brings a conclusion to one of the most significant terrorist plot disruptions we have seen in the UK for several years.

“Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein intended to target members of the Jewish community in an evil act born out of hate and intolerance.

“If they had been successful, then what followed would have been devastating and potentially one of the deadliest terrorist attacks to ever take place on UK soil.

Walid Saadaoui plotted to smuggle weapons to the UK (Image: GMP)

“Walid was the ringleader.

“Through conversations with an undercover operative, we know – in detail – the extremist views that he held. He was the driving force behind the plot and he recruited Hussein to join him.

“He claimed during the trial that he was merely paying lip service and actually intended to sabotage his own plot at the last minute. This account is FAR from the truth.

“In Hussein he found a like-minded individual who did not need to be convinced to join. Hussein spoke openly to detectives following his arrest about his support of ISIS and cast judgement on others who did not hold the same extremist views that he held.

“Walid also discussed the plot and the action he had been taking openly with his brother, Bilel.

Walid and Bilel Saadaoui (Image: GMP)

“Although Bilel was not an active participant in preparations for the plot, the fact he knew what was planned but chose to remain silent makes him as guilty as the others.

“Being aware of a plan to cause such devastation and knowing that you could act to prevent it, but choosing not to, is simply not good enough.

“Our overwhelming priority during this proactive operation was ensuring public safety and we never lost sight of that.

“Each decision we made was rooted in this principle and the operation was highly controlled and resourced throughout.

“It was important for us to build the strongest possible case to take these dangerous men off the streets for a significant period of time and protect the public from them long-term.

“As evidenced by the sentences passed today, we have achieved that.

“I want to thank all those involved in this operation. We’ve worked with colleagues across CT and local policing, partner agencies and community organisations. The scale of the operation has been huge, and we would not be here without everybody’s efforts.

“I’d also like to express my sincere gratitude to the undercover operative who put himself in significant danger each time he met with two would-be terrorists.

“At any point he could have become a target himself, but he risked his personal safety in the name of wider public protection.

“This case has taken place at a time of heightened concern and anxiety within the Jewish community.

“The trial began the week after the appalling terrorist attack that took place in Greater Manchester and concluded soon after the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney.

“We have worked closely with stakeholders, including the Community Security Trust, throughout proceedings to address any concerns and provide reassurance.

“We will continue to do so and we remain dedicated to making sure all communities feel safe from the threat of terrorism and bringing those who would seek to harm them to justice.

“I hope that the significant outcome from this highly resourced, proactive investigation underlines that commitment.”