Walid Saadaoui, 38, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 37 years, and Amar Hussein, 52, to life with a minimum of 26 years, for planning what police described as a potentially catastrophic Islamic State-inspired gun attack on the Jewish community in Greater Manchester. A third man, Bilel Saadaoui, was jailed for six years for his role in the plot. The case was described by the prosecution as one of the most serious terrorism conspiracies ever foiled in the United Kingdom.

What Was the Plot?

Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein, both motivated by IS ideology and a “visceral dislike” of Jewish people, planned to carry out a mass-casualty gun attack on a Jewish community gathering in Greater Manchester. Having targeted a specific event, the two men planned to kill as many people as they could before moving on to a British military base for what they described as a “last stand” — a gunfight with security forces that they expected would end in their deaths.

The scale of the conspiracy was made clear when officers arrested Walid Saadaoui on 8 May 2024 as he attempted to take delivery of a weapons cache that included two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol, and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition. Saadaoui believed he had arranged the importation of the weapons through a contact he had developed over months of extremist communication online.

How Was the Plot Uncovered?

Counter Terrorism Policing deployed an undercover officer who posed as a like-minded extremist. The officer gained the trust of Walid Saadaoui over a sustained period, allowing investigators to track the development of the plot in real time. Saadaoui confided his intentions, shared operational planning details, and believed the undercover officer was helping him acquire weapons. In reality, the entire weapons transaction was a controlled operation by police designed to catch him at the moment of attempted arming.

Amar Hussein had been radicalised over years and was involved in the planning stages, providing ideological motivation and logistical assistance. Bilel Saadaoui, the brother of Walid, was implicated in peripheral support for the conspiracy.

The Trial and Sentencing

All three defendants were convicted following proceedings at Preston Crown Court. On 13 February 2026, the judge handed down the sentences: life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years for Walid Saadaoui, life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years for Amar Hussein, and six years for Bilel Saadaoui. The Parole Board will only be able to consider the release of Walid Saadaoui or Amar Hussein once they have served their full minimum terms — meaning neither man can apply for release before 2061 and 2052 respectively at the earliest.

Counter Terrorism Policing and the Crown Prosecution Service described the plot as one of the deadliest terrorist conspiracies ever foiled on UK soil. The presiding judge noted the premeditated, targeted nature of the planned attack and the “extreme danger” the defendants had posed to innocent members of the Jewish community.

Who Are Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein?

Walid Saadaoui, 38 at the time of sentencing, was the primary organiser of the plot. British-born but of North African descent, he had adopted IS ideology and held extremist views for a significant period before the arrest. Amar Hussein, 52, was the older of the main conspirators. Both men expressed a determination to target Jewish people specifically, a motivation rooted in their interpretation of events in the Middle East following October 2023.

The case highlighted the threat from individuals inspired by IS ideology who act with a degree of operational planning — acquiring weapons, selecting targets and preparing for a “final confrontation” with security forces — rather than carrying out spontaneous lone-wolf attacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein in prison?

Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein are serving life sentences for planning an IS-inspired gun attack targeting the Jewish community in Greater Manchester. Both were convicted at Preston Crown Court and sentenced on 13 February 2026.

How long are their sentences?

Walid Saadaoui received a life sentence with a minimum term of 37 years. Amar Hussein received a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years. Bilel Saadaoui was sentenced to six years in prison.

What weapons did they have?

When Walid Saadaoui was arrested in May 2024, he was caught attempting to take possession of two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol, and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition — which he believed had been smuggled into the UK by his contact.

How was the Manchester terror plot foiled?

Counter Terrorism Policing deployed an undercover officer who infiltrated the conspiracy over a sustained period, gaining Walid Saadaoui’s trust. The weapons transaction was a controlled operation and Saadaoui was arrested as he tried to collect the firearms.

What was the intended target of the Manchester terror plot?

The conspirators planned to attack a Jewish community gathering in Greater Manchester, intending to kill as many people as possible before proceeding to a British military base for a final armed confrontation with security forces.