BBC -Two men who planned to target the Jewish community in Manchester in what police said could have been “the UK’s most deadly terror attack” have been jailed for life.

Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, 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.

Saadaoui and Hussein were given minimum prison terms of 37 and 26 years respectively.

No specific attack target site or date was identified, but prosecutors said the men planned to launch a gun assault on a march against antisemitism by the end of summer 2024, and then head to north Manchester to carry on their killing spree.

During the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Wall said: “I am sure this would have led to the deaths of many people and serious injuries to many, many more.

“Your plan envisaged you and two others discharging AK-47s into a large crowd of marchers, who were unarmed and defenceless.

“One-hundred-and-twenty bullets could have been discharged before any reloads were required. You planned to have spare magazines available.

“Your attack would have led to the deaths of people of all ages, including children.”

The court heard how Saadaoui, of Abram, Wigan, aimed to smuggle four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition into the UK.

• The former hotel entertainer who plotted deadly gun attack

Months earlier, the father-of-two, originally from Tunisia, paid a deposit for the weapons and believed he had arranged for their importation with a like-minded extremist named Farouk, who was actually an undercover operative.

Saadaoui told Farouk he could independently obtain a firearm via Sweden and indicated he was looking to bring guns from eastern Europe.

Separately he had bought an air weapon and had visited a shooting range.

Counter-terrorism police intervened on 8 May 2024, with more than 200 officers involved, as Saadaoui was arrested at a hotel car park in Bolton when he went to collect some of the firearms, which had been deactivated.

He had come to the attention of the authorities when he used 10 Facebook accounts, none of which were in his own name, to spread a torrent of Islamic extremist views.

Minutes after the hotel car park arrest, Hussein and Saadaoui’s younger brother Bilel Saadaoui, 36, both elsewhere, were also arrested.

The trial heard Walid Saadaoui had been planning to “martyr himself” in the attack.

He had prepared a will and had left a copy with his brother, along with tens of thousands of pounds in cash to help provide for his family.

Walid Saadaoui came to the attention of the authorities when he used 10 Facebook accounts, none of which were in his own name, to spread a torrent of Islamic extremist views.

Farouk was deployed to gain his trust, first online and then later in person.

Walid Saadaoui used one of his fake accounts to join the Facebook group of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester which contained details of a “March Against Antisemitism” held in the city centre on 21 January 2024, which thousands of people attended.

Days later he told Farouk: “Here in Manchester, we have the biggest Jewish community.

“God willing we will degrade and humiliate them (in the worst way possible), and hit them where it hurts.”

Mr Justice Wall commended the bravery of Farouk, adding it was “a dangerous and difficult job”.

“He undertook it with great skill and patience,” he said.

“He has potentially saved many lives by putting his own life on the line.”

Walid Saadaoui recruited fellow Isis sympathiser Hussein, a Kuwaiti national, who worked and lived at a furniture shop in Bolton, Greater Manchester, to assist his plans.

The pair travelled to Dover, Kent, in March 2024 to conduct hostile reconnaissance on how a weapon could be smuggled through the port without detection.

On his return, Walid Saadaoui travelled to Prestwich and Higher Broughton in north Manchester where he carried out similar surveillance on Jewish nurseries, schools, synagogues and shops.

Bilel Saadaoui, of Hindley, Wigan, was not planning to take part in the attacks but knew what his older brother was doing and sympathised with the views of the so-called Islamic State group.

The trial was shown WhatsApp messages between the pair which “provided a flavour of the views they held about Jewish people”.

In one message, Bilel Saadaoui sent Hussein a link to a news report that a number of Jewish people had been killed in a bridge collapse, and he added the hashtag “Beloved Palestine”.

Walid Saadaoui and Hussein, of no fixed abode, were found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism between 13 December 2023 and 9 May 2024.

Bilel Saadaoui, 36, who was convicted of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism, has been jailed for six years.

The European Parliament has strongly condemned what it described as widespread intimidation, harassment, arbitrary detention, and violence following Uganda’s general presidential and parliamentary elections held on January 15, 2026.

In a February 12 statement signed by Press Officer Elodie Laborie, the Parliament said the elections were “marred by abuses, widespread intimidation, fraud, violence and a nationwide internet blackout.”

Lawmakers expressed serious concern about the post-election environment, particularly the treatment of opposition leaders and supporters.

The resolution singled out Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), and veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye.

Parliament called for “the immediate and unconditional release” of Kyagulanyi, Besigye, and all individuals it described as arbitrarily detained. It also condemned the killing of NUP supporter Mesach Okello.

The Lawmakers urged Ugandan authorities to end the practice of trying civilians in military courts, to implement constitutional safeguards in judicial proceedings, and to disclose the whereabouts of missing persons.

The resolution further called for “independent and impartial investigations into crimes against humanity committed by political and military leaders.”

“MEPs are deeply concerned by the suppression of civil society groups and the significant threats and intimidation directed at opposition leaders. Parliament urges Ugandan authorities to uphold democratic principles, respect human rights, and ensure accountability for all abuses committed,” the statement read.

The resolution also underscored the need for comprehensive electoral and institutional reforms in Uganda. Members of the European Parliament called on the European Union and its member states to review their cooperation with Kampala to ensure alignment with EU principles.

They urged prioritised support for civil society organisations, human rights defenders, LGBTIQ+ activists, and journalists operating in Uganda.

Following the elections, Kyagulanyi publicly rejected the official results, describing them as “fake” and alleging ballot stuffing, though he did not present evidence to substantiate the claims.

On January 16, he reportedly left his residence in Magere and went into hiding after what he described as a military raid, citing fears for his safety.

Since then, he has continued communicating with supporters via social media, urging peaceful street protests instead of filing a judicial petition, citing lack of confidence in the judiciary.

According to official results released by the Electoral Commission, incumbent President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was declared winner with 7,946,772 votes, representing 71.65 percent of the valid votes cast. Kyagulanyi received 2,741,238 votes, accounting for 24.72 percent.

This is not the first time Kyagulanyi has challenged election results. After the 2021 presidential poll, he petitioned the Supreme Court contesting Museveni’s victory but later withdrew the case, citing what he termed bias and lack of impartiality in the courts.

The European Parliament’s resolution was adopted by 514 votes in favour, three against, and 56 abstentions.

In the same sitting, the Parliament also adopted resolutions addressing human rights concerns in Iran and Türkiye.