PAIR PLOTTED

TWO Islamist fanatics plotted to kill "as many Jewish people as they could" in what could have been the UK's deadliest mass shooting.

- BY PHIL CARDY

Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, were “prepared to kill several hundred people” in a marauding attack in the heart of Manchester's Jewish community, a court heard.

Both were given life sentences for preparing acts of terrorism between December 2023 and May 2024.

Saadaoui must serve at least 37 years and Hussein a minimum of 26 years after they were sentenced yesterday.

Judge Mark Wall KC told them: “I am sure that you intended to use AK47 Kalashnikov weapons to launch a deadly attack on the city of Manchester.

“I am sure [the attack] would have led to the deaths of many people... of all ages, including children.”

The judge added: “You are antisemitic, you intended to target the Jewish community.” He called them both “fervent supporters of Isis”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I want to thank law enforcement for bringing these cowards to justice and reassure our Jewish community that we will never relent in our fight against antisemitism and terror.”

The pair, who planned to target schools and synagogues, were caught thanks to an undercover operative who agreed to supply them with weapons.

The operative, Farouk, duped the jihadists into believing two assault rifles, a semiautomatic pistol and almost 200 rounds of ammunition were being transported to the UK on a ferry.

Saadaoui, a former Italian restaurant owner, was arrested in a police sting at the car park of the Last Drop hotel in Bolton in May 2024.