Bilel Saadoui was sentenced to six years in prison at Preston Crown Court on 13 February 2026 after being convicted of failing to disclose information about a planned terrorist attack — a deadly plot orchestrated by his brother Walid Saadoui that targeted Jewish communities in Greater Manchester.
Who Is Bilel Saadoui?
Bilel Saadoui is the brother of Walid Saadoui, the ringleader of an Islamic State-inspired terrorist plot against Jewish communities in Greater Manchester. Bilel was not a direct participant in the planning of the attack, but he was aware of his brother’s intentions in the days leading up to the arrests and failed to report this knowledge to the authorities.
His case was notable because it tested the limits of the UK’s terrorism disclosure laws, under which individuals who become aware of a planned terrorist attack and do not report it to the police may themselves face criminal prosecution.
The Manchester Terror Plot
The plot in which his brother Walid was the ringleader involved plans to carry out a mass casualty attack on Jewish communities in Greater Manchester, motivated by Islamic State ideology. Walid Saadoui had conducted reconnaissance of targets in the area and, together with co-conspirator Amar Hussein, had also travelled to Dover as part of the operational planning phase. Walid made attempts to acquire firearms through an individual he did not know to be an undercover counter-terrorism operative.
Counter Terrorism Policing North West described the foiled attack as one of the most serious they had encountered, with the potential for hundreds of casualties had it not been disrupted.
His Offence: Failing to Disclose
In the days immediately before the arrests, Bilel Saadoui exchanged voice messages with his brother Walid in which the plans for the attack were discussed. Despite becoming aware of the planned terrorist act through these communications, Bilel did not contact the police or any other authority to report what he knew.
Under UK terrorism legislation, a person who knows or believes that another person is preparing or carrying out an act of terrorism and fails without reasonable excuse to disclose that information to the police commits a criminal offence. The jury found Bilel Saadoui guilty of this offence on the basis of the communications evidence obtained during the investigation.
His Brother and the Ringleaders
Walid Saadoui, the ringleader, was sentenced at the same hearing on 13 February 2026 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years. Amar Hussein, Walid’s co-conspirator who participated in the planning and reconnaissance, also received a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 26 years. The three defendants together received sentences totalling more than 69 years in custody.
The sentencing judge noted the serious nature of all the offences. For information about visiting someone in prison, including those held in high security facilities, our book a prison visit guide covers the process in detail.
The Sentence
Bilel Saadoui was sentenced to six years in prison at Preston Crown Court on 13 February 2026. He will be required to serve a minimum portion of this term before becoming eligible for release on licence. Decisions about release in such cases are assessed by the Parole Board, which considers risk before granting release.
The sentence reflected both the seriousness of the underlying terrorist conspiracy and the role Bilel played in concealing knowledge of it from the authorities. Family members wishing to locate Bilel Saadoui in the prison estate can consult our UK prison inmate search guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bilel Saadoui in prison?
Bilel Saadoui is in prison because he was convicted of failing to disclose information about a planned terrorist attack. His brother Walid Saadoui was the ringleader of a plot to attack Jewish communities in Greater Manchester, and Bilel became aware of the plans through voice message exchanges with Walid but did not report them to police. He was sentenced to six years in prison at Preston Crown Court on 13 February 2026.
How long is Bilel Saadoui’s sentence?
Bilel Saadoui was sentenced to six years in prison. He will be required to serve a portion of this custodial term before becoming eligible for release on licence under standard sentencing rules in England and Wales.
What is the offence of failing to disclose terrorism information?
Under UK terrorism legislation, a person who knows or believes that another individual is preparing or carrying out a terrorist act, and fails without reasonable excuse to report this to the police, commits a criminal offence. This is separate from directly participating in terrorism and carries its own significant maximum sentence. Bilel Saadoui was convicted of this offence because he was aware of his brother Walid’s plans and did not inform authorities.
Who were the other defendants in the Manchester terror plot?
Walid Saadoui, Bilel’s brother and the ringleader of the plot, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 37 years. Amar Hussein, a co-conspirator who participated in the planning and reconnaissance, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years. All three were sentenced at Preston Crown Court on 13 February 2026.
Which prison is Bilel Saadoui in?
The specific prison where Bilel Saadoui is held has not been publicly confirmed. Those convicted of terrorism-related offences in England and Wales are allocated to appropriate facilities within the prison estate. Our UK prison inmate search guide explains how family members can locate an inmate through official channels.
