UK apprehends two men for allegedly planning ISIS-inspired terror attack on British Jews

Two men have appeared in a London court accused of planning the murder of British citizens in an ISIS-inspired terror attack.

Amar Hussein, 50 years old, and Walid Saadaoui, 36 years old, would have aimed to assassinate local Jewish individuals, police officers and soldiers, using automatic weapons. A third suspect and Walid’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 35, are accused of non-disclosure of an act of terrorism.

“The first court appearance today revealed some disturbing and distressing details of an alleged terrorist plot which we believe was planned by suspects from Greater Manchester,” Deputy 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.

Anti-Semitic acts have soared in Britain following Hamas’ October 7 massacre of at least 1,200 Israeli men, women and children. Hamas terrorists also kidnapped around 250 hostages, of whom around 130 remain in captivity in Gaza.

The United Kingdom is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe, numbering some 300,000 people, mainly concentrated in the London metropolitan area, but also a significant community in Manchester.

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

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

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

“It is heartbreaking to read reports of a suspected terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community. » said British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

“I would like to thank the UK security services and police for their tireless work to keep our country and our communities safe.

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

At the end of November, tens of thousands of people in London called for “zero tolerance for anti-Semitism” amid an explosion of hatred against Israel and Jews.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed solidarity with Britain’s struggling Jewish community.

“It’s very sad that this march has to take place. What we are all doing here is showing solidarity with the Jewish people, and that is necessary,” Johnson said. declared.

In November, Chief Rabbi Mirvis declared that the Jewish community would remain strong in the face of the anti-Semitic tsunami sweeping across his country.

“Since October 7, we have seen an alarming rise in anti-Semitism here in the UK, but we will not be intimidated. We call for the strengthening of community cohesion and we will always be proud to defend the finest British values,” he promised.