On 13 February 2026, two Islamist extremists were convicted and sentenced for their roles in planning a devastating terrorist attack targeting Manchester’s Jewish community — the largest Jewish community in the UK outside London. The Community Security Trust (CST) has published a detailed briefing report titled “The jihadist plot to murder Manchester’s Jews”, which outlines the plot, how it was stopped, and what it reveals about the threat facing Jewish communities in the UK.
This foiled conspiracy has since become a key example of the dangers posed by Islamic State-inspired terrorism at home and underscores the ongoing challenges of extremist radicalisation in Western societies.
What Was the Plot?
According to the CST report, the plan was orchestrated by Walid Saadaoui (38) and Amar Hussein (52), both of whom were described by the prosecution as devoted followers of Islamic State (IS) ideology with a “visceral, deep-rooted” hatred of Jewish people. Their goal was to carry out a marauding firearms attack against Jewish civilians in Manchester, using automatic assault rifles to kill and injure as many people as possible.
Had the plot been carried out, it would have likely resulted in hundreds of deaths and serious injuries, creating one of the worst terrorist atrocities on British soil since the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
The conspirators selected their target carefully. Manchester is home to a vibrant Jewish community of approximately 28,000 people with thriving synagogues, schools and cultural centres — a community that Saadaoui and Hussein had been reconnoitring prior to their arrest.
Their ambitions extended beyond Jewish civilians alone. The original plan reportedly included attacks at an antisemitism march in Manchester city centre — a public event designed to assert solidarity against hate — followed by further violence in Jewish-dominated suburbs. This approach would have maximised casualties and terror impact.
How the Plot Was Foiled
What ultimately prevented this catastrophe was a covert operation led by Counter Terrorism Policing North West, officially codenamed Operation Catogenic — described in the CST report as the largest and most complex covert counterterrorism investigation ever conducted in the North West of England.
Key to the disruption of the plot was the work of an undercover operative, known only by the codename “Farouk.” Posing as a fellow IS supporter and arms dealer online, Farouk established contact with Saadaoui in December 2023 through jihadist social-media posts. Believing Farouk shared extremist sympathies, Saadaoui soon began communicating detailed plans and ambitions with him.
Over several months, Farouk gained the trust of Saadaoui and Hussein, helping to facilitate weapons acquisition — unknowingly to the extremists, these were inert weapons supplied by police — and to plan the attack logistics. In May 2024, as Saadaoui attempted to complete a hand-off of rifles, ammunition and other gear in a hotel car park in Bolton, authorities moved in and arrested the plotters.
The success of the sting operation prevented a mass casualty event and has been widely praised by law enforcement officials for its bravery and precision.
The Convictions
At Preston Crown Court, after an eleven-week trial that began in October 2025, all three defendants were found guilty on terrorism charges:
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Walid Saadaoui: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 37 years — as the ringleader who planned and coordinated the attack.
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Amar Hussein: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 26 years — for his active participation and assistance in planning.
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Bilel Saadaoui (Walid’s brother): Six years’ imprisonment for failing to report the plot to police.
During sentencing hearings, the court heard that Saadaoui’s radicalisation included hero-worship of European IS figures, particularly those linked to the 2015 Paris terror attacks, and that the conspiracy had been in planning stages for many months, involving extensive target reconnaissance and logistical preparation.
Broader Context: Rising Antisemitic Violence
The CST’s briefing does more than catalogue a single incident; it situates the plot within a broader environment of rising antisemitic hate and violence in the UK. In 2025 alone, anti-Jewish incidents reached record levels, driven in part by global tensions and a fatal antisemitic terrorist attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur in October 2025, which resulted in the deaths of two worshippers.
This atmosphere of fear and vulnerability, coupled with the inspiration extremist ideologies like IS can have on isolated individuals, has heightened security concerns for Jewish communities throughout the UK.
The CST report stresses that security measures at Jewish sites — from synagogues and schools to community events — remain vitally important given the current threat landscape, and that cooperation between community organisations, police, and intelligence agencies is crucial for prevention.
What This Plot Teaches Us
The foiled Manchester Jewish terror plot exposes several critical realities about contemporary terrorism:
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Home-grown radicalisation persists: Both Saadaoui and Hussein lived in the UK and utilised online networks to reinforce extremist views, showing how individuals can be radicalised far from traditional conflict zones.
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Undercover operations remain essential: The role of covert policing — including creating believable online personas and monitoring suspect actions — was central to stopping the attack.
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Antisemitism can intersect with terrorism: While antisemitic hate can take many forms, this case demonstrates how ideologically driven hatred can escalate into planned mass violence.
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Communities must remain vigilant: The Jewish community’s extensive security network and liaison with police illustrates both vulnerability and resilience.