UK apprehends two men who reportedly planned ISIS-inspired terror attack on British Jews

Two men appeared in a London court, accused of planning to murder British citizens in an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack.

Amar Hussein, 50, and Walid Saadaoui, 36, reportedly intended to murder local Jewish individuals, police and military personnel, using automatic weapons. A third suspect and Walid’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 35, are facing charges of failing to disclose an act of terrorism.

“Today’s first court appearance has outlined some concerning and distressing details about a suspected terrorist plot that we allege was being planned by suspects from Greater Manchester,” Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, said on Tuesday.

“We know how significant the impact of this will be, particularly for our Jewish community in Greater Manchester and across the country.

Antisemitic acts have skyrocketed in Great Britain after the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre of at least 1,200 Israeli men, women and children. Hamas terrorists also kidnapped about 250 hostages, around 130 of whom remain in captivity in Gaza.

The United Kingdom is home to one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities, numbering some 300,000 people, mainly concentrated in the London Metropolitan region but also a sizeable community in Manchester.

Amanda Bomsztyk, the northern regional director of the Community Security Trust, a British Jewish security advisory body, stressed the importance of addressing the serious security threat.

“This is one of a number of recent and ongoing cases that demonstrate why the Jewish community needs such extensive security measures,” she said.

“Everyone should feel safe in our region regardless of their religion or race,” Potts told the Jewish Chronicle.

“It is harrowing to read reports of an alleged terror attack targeting the Jewish community,” said British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

“I’d like to thank British security services and the Police for their tireless work to keep our country and our communities safe.

“This news underlines just how essential their work is and gives us the confidence to maintain the vitality of Jewish community life across the country.”

In late November, tens of thousands in London called for “Zero tolerance for antisemitism” amid exploding hatred against Israel and Jews.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his solidarity with the embattled British Jewish community.

“It's very sad that this march has to take place at all. What we're all doing here is showing solidarity with Jewish people, and that is necessary,” Johnson stated.

In November, Chief Rabbi Mirvis had said the Jewish community would remain strong in the face of the antisemitic tsunami sweeping across his country.

“Since October 7, we have witnessed here in the UK, an alarming rise of antisemitism, but we will not be intimidated. We call for the strengthening of community cohesion and we will forever be proud to champion the finest of British values,” he pledged.