Pair ‘plotted ISIS-inspired machine gun attack on UK Jews’
TWO men prepared to carry out an IS-inspired machine gun attack on Jews, a court heard.
Walid Saadaoui, 36, allegedly agreed to pay for four of the weapons, a handgun and 1,200 rounds of ammo.
He was said to have arranged a safe house to store them.
In March, he and Amar Hussein, 50, allegedly went to Dover, where the weapons were to be imported, to assess port security.
He was arrested on May 8 as he travelled to a meeting to pick up the weapons. Hussein was arrested separately, JPs heard.
Rebecca Waller, prosecuting, said they believed they were in position to launch an IS-inspired attack to cause multiple fatalities with automatic weapons.
She added: “The main targets were the Jewish community in the North West of England and members of both law enforcement and military.
She said Saadaoui stated he was in communication with, and a member of, IS.
The pair are charged with the preparation of terrorist acts.
Saadaoui’s brother, Bilel — both are Tunisians with leave to remain in the UK — was arrested the same day.
The father of two, 35, is charged with failing to disclose information about an act of terrorism, having allegedly taken receipt of his brother’s will and the key to a safe containing £75,000.
The trio, from Gtr Manchester, were remanded in custody by Westminster JPs to appear at the Old Bailey on May 24.