Two men who plotted an Islamic State-inspired mass murder of Jewish people in Manchester have been jailed. Walid Saadaoui, 38, of Crankwood Road, Abram, Wigan; and Amar Hussein, 52, of no fixed address, have been sentenced to a total of 63 years.
The pair arranged for guns to be smuggled into the UK as part of an "Isis-inspired plot", Preston Crown Court heard. They were caught by an undercover operative who played a "crucial role" in foiling their plans, Greater Manchester Police said. They aimed to smuggle four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition into the UK.
Prosecutors said the pair were Islamist extremists who wanted to use automatic firearms to kill as many Jews as they could.
Judge Mark Wall sentenced Saadaoui to a minimum term of 37 years and Hussein to a minimum term of 26 years, saying: "You were very close to being ready to carry out this plan."
The attack could have been 'the deadliest terror attack' in UK history, according to one of the country's most senior counter terrorism officers.
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