A former seaside restaurant owner allegedly sold his business to finance a terrorist plot targeting Jewish people in Manchester, a court has heard.
Prosecutors at Preston Crown Court said Walid Saadaoui, 38, used the proceeds from the sale of his Albatross Restaurant in Great Yarmouth to buy assault rifles and ammunition for an Islamic State-inspired attack.
According to Sky News, Saadaoui – who later moved to Wigan – is accused of arranging to buy four AK-47 rifles, two handguns, and 1,200 rounds of ammunition in preparation for a mass shooting. He was arrested in a Bolton hotel car park while allegedly taking delivery of some of the weapons from an undercover police officer posing as a supplier.
Prosecutor Kelly Brocklehurst told jurors that Saadaoui had begun posting extremist content online in late 2022. Using around ten Facebook accounts, he allegedly shared propaganda supporting the so-called Islamic State.
His posts reportedly included violent rhetoric such as: “We will fight until death, even if souls have perished and blood has been shed.”
Another message, shared in June 2023, read: “Should you be martyred or die in the cause of Allah, then His forgiveness and mercy are far better than whatever wealth those who stay behind accumulated.”
He also shared an image showing a Koran next to an AK-47 rifle, captioned: “A book that guides and a sword that delivers victory.”
Other online posts allegedly gave “security tips” to would-be attackers, advising them to hide their identities with VPNs, disable phone tracking, and “burn apostates’ properties.”
Ms. Brocklehurst told the court that Saadaoui withdrew about £70,000 in cash while preparing for the alleged attack. After moving north, she said, “his focus was on planning his terrorist activities.”
Saadaoui’s younger brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, who led a prayer circle in Preston, is accused of knowing about the plot but failing to report it. Prosecutors said he also shared Islamic State chants and videos of himself exercising to jihadist songs.
A third man, Amar Hussein, 52, is accused of helping to arrange the weapons deal.
Both Walid Saadaoui and Hussein deny preparing acts of terrorism, while all three defendants deny the charges against them.
The trial continues at Preston Crown Court. Photo by Brian nairB, Wikimedia commons.