Keir Starmer backs life imprisonment for ISIS linked plotters who targeted Jewish schools and synagogues in Manchester

It’s hard to overstate how catastrophic this attack might have been.

Two men, radicalised and fuelled by extremist ideology, had mapped out what prosecutors described as potentially the deadliest firearms assault ever carried out against Jewish people in the UK.

Their goal wasn’t symbolic damage — it was mass murder.

This week, the plot ended not in bloodshed, but in prison sentences.

And at the centre of the political response was Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who reacted bluntly: “Good. This is a horrifying case.”

He praised law enforcement and reiterated that Britain would not relent in confronting antisemitism or terrorism.

The relief is palpable.

But so is the warning.

Life Sentences for a “Genuinely Chilling” Plan

At Preston Crown Court, Mr Justice Mark Wall handed down life sentences to Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52.

Saadaoui must serve at least 37 years before parole eligibility; Hussein must serve at least 26.

The pair had spent months planning an ISIS-inspired gun attack targeting Jewish schools, synagogues and public gatherings in Manchester.

They attempted to secure assault rifles and more than 900 rounds of ammunition.

In their own words, one gun would not have been “enough.”

Their preparations were ultimately exposed through contact with an undercover counter-terror operative.

The supposed weapons cache they believed was being shipped into Britain was, in reality, part of a controlled sting operation.

Without that intervention, prosecutors argued, Britain could have witnessed one of the deadliest terror attacks in its modern history.

Radicalisation and Obsession

Investigators revealed that Saadaoui idolised Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the orchestrator of the 2015 Paris attacks.

He openly expressed a desire to replicate that scale of devastation on British soil.

Hussein, meanwhile, pledged allegiance to ISIS on camera, calling its followers “real Muslims” and describing himself as “proud” to be a terrorist.

Both men were radicalised amid rising global tensions following the October 7 Hamas massacre and Israel’s military response.

Prosecutors said their plot was explicitly framed as revenge for events in Gaza — but intended to be carried out on the streets of Manchester.

Importantly, this conspiracy was separate from the earlier synagogue attack in Manchester and unrelated to international incidents like the Bondi Beach killings in Australia.

However, police say the broader pattern of escalating antisemitic hatred worldwide cannot be ignored.

The Undercover Officer Who Stopped It

Perhaps the most remarkable element of the case is the bravery of the undercover operative, known in court under a pseudonym.

For six months, he embedded himself in the plotters’ confidence.

He travelled with them to Dover to scout port security.

He joined them on reconnaissance walks through Jewish neighbourhoods in north Manchester.

He watched as they identified schools, nurseries and places of worship.

Greater Manchester Police described the operation as extraordinarily dangerous.

Armed teams shadowed meetings in case the officer’s identity was uncovered.

At any point, he could have become their first victim.

Instead, his evidence dismantled the plot before a single shot was fired.

“Jewish Communities Are Under Threat”

Following the sentencing, Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police delivered stark remarks.

He said Jewish communities in Britain “put up with a way of life that nobody else has to put up with.”

Jewish children, he noted, routinely attend schools behind high fencing, with guards and visible patrols — security measures that have become normalised.

His warning was clear: when Jewish communities are under threat, the whole country is under threat.

That sentiment reflects a broader concern across Europe.

Antisemitic incidents have surged in the wake of Middle East tensions.

Community groups have reported sharp increases in abuse, vandalism and threats since October 7.

Intelligence agencies across Europe have similarly warned about lone actors and organised extremist cells.

A Pattern Britain Knows Too Well

The UK has faced devastating terrorism before.

The 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the 2005 London attacks remain etched into public memory.

But firearms attacks of this scale are rarer in Britain, which is why prosecutors emphasised how unprecedented this plot could have been.

One chilling detail: Saadaoui had written a will, emptied bank accounts, given away possessions and even visited family abroad — behaviour often associated with so-called “martyrdom preparation.”

This was not fantasy rhetoric. It was operational planning.

What’s Next?

The case raises uncomfortable but necessary questions.

Security services are likely to intensify monitoring of extremist networks online, especially where global conflicts are being weaponised as recruitment tools.

Counter-terror policing will continue to rely heavily on human intelligence — including undercover work — to intercept threats early.

Politically, pressure will mount for tougher measures against hate speech that crosses into incitement.

There will also be renewed debate over immigration controls, radicalisation prevention programmes, and how communities can be better protected without living in permanent fear.

At a societal level, leaders are urging something broader: solidarity.

The message from policing is that defending Jewish communities is not a niche issue — it is a national responsibility.

Summary

Two men who plotted what could have been the worst firearms attack against Jews in British history have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Their ISIS-inspired plan targeted Jewish communities in Manchester and involved attempts to acquire assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

The attack was prevented by a highly risky undercover counter-terror operation.

The Prime Minister welcomed the sentences, while police leaders warned that antisemitic hatred is rising and that Jewish communities face unique security pressures.

The immediate threat has been neutralised.

But the wider challenge — confronting radicalisation, antisemitism and extremist violence — remains ongoing.