Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein, two Islamic State-inspired terrorists, meticulously planned a horrifying series of attacks in north Manchester. Their scheme included the mass shooting of Jewish individuals, including children at Prestwich schools, which Saadaoui chillingly referred to as 'appetisers' for his main objective: a mass-casualty gun massacre at a pro-Israel march in Manchester. Saadaoui, a Tunisia-born former restaurateur and holiday camp entertainer, envisioned becoming a martyr in the name of Allah.

Saadaoui, who openly admired the orchestrator of the devastating 2015 Paris terror attacks, divulged the gruesome details of his plot to an undercover operative, 'Farouk', whom he believed to be a fellow Jihadi. Unbeknownst to Saadaoui, these conversations were being secretly recorded. On March 17, 2024, Saadaoui took Farouk on a reconnaissance tour of potential targets within north Manchester's Jewish communities, covering areas like Cheetham Hill, Higher Broughton, and Salford. CCTV footage showed them surveying numerous locations, including Lubavitch Boys School, King David School (primary and secondary), Tashbar School, Mechinoh L'yeshiva school, Lubavitch synagogue, Bnei Akiva youth club, Habonim nursery, and Holy Law synagogue. Saadaoui was even captured taking pictures of these sites under the pretense of a FaceTime call.

During their walk, Saadaoui expressed extreme anti-Semitic hatred, calling Jews 'the most cowardly people' and 'the killers of the messengers and prophets'. He discussed attacking synagogues and shops and, while watching Jewish children play football, specifically targeted schools. He chillingly mused about poisoning their water and stated that killing children at that age meant they 'go to heaven' as they had not reached 'the age of accountability'. In a subsequent conversation on April 30, 2024, Saadaoui explicitly confirmed that if a pro-Israel march wasn't available, they would target the schools, opening fire on "young, old, women, elderly, the whole lot, killing them all." The Manchester Jewish Museum was also found as a cached image on co-defendant Amar Hussein's phone, indicating another potential target.

The pair even entered the K Outlet supermarket, discussing how they would open fire on shoppers. Saadaoui detailed tactical approaches, suggesting they 'could have the pieces in the bags' (referring to machine guns) and specifying firing positions. He rationalized leaving without purchase by saying, "All of the money will go to Israel." Farouk, fearing an immediate attack, played along during these chilling exchanges.

Saadaoui's 'primary target' remained a pro-Israel march, similar to a demonstration attended by 650 people in Manchester city centre on February 21, 2024. He searched online for details of this event, which featured Israeli flags, anti-Semitism placards, and a speech by Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. Saadaoui viewed participants of such marches as 'original Jews who are supportive of Israel with whose money they kill Muslims', taking delight in the thought of their cowardice when confronted. He even mentioned wanting to broadcast the attack live via a Go-Pro camera and discussed using 'cluster bombs', although there was no evidence he attempted to acquire such devices. In another conversation, he praised Hitler, saying, "Hitler may god be exulted was burning them, the Jews. Did you know, may god make them ugly." He also plotted to turn his guns on responding police and paramedics.

The elaborate plot was foiled when Saadaoui was arrested on May 8, 2024, in the car park of the Last Drop hotel north of Bolton. He was about to receive two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol, and nearly 200 rounds of ammunition from Farouk, who was driving the delivery vehicle. Further investigations revealed Walid was also expecting two more assault rifles, another pistol, and an additional 700 rounds. Counter-terrorism police believed Saadaoui's plan involved four attackers. Walid himself, Amar Hussein, and the undercover Farouk accounted for three, but the identity of a fourth potential attacker remains a mystery to investigators, despite the plan for four AK47s and two pistols. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts confirmed that Saadaoui intended to involve Hussein and 'two other like-minded individuals', emphasizing the catastrophic consequences averted by the intervention. Saadaoui and Hussein have been remanded and are scheduled for sentencing at Preston Crown Court on February 13.