Men accused of planning an attack on Jews in Britain will face trial next year

LONDON (Reuters) – Two men will stand trial next year accused of planning attacks and killings of members of the Jewish community and others in northwest England with automatic weapons, a London court heard on Friday.

Walid Saadaoui, 36, and Amar Hussein, 50, were charged earlier this month with preparing terrorist acts between December 2023 and May this year. The acts included purchasing firearms, conducting reconnaissance work and drawing up attack plans.

“They planned an ISIL or Daesh-inspired terrorist attack in the UK, allegedly using automatic weapons to cause multiple deaths,” prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said at a hearing at London’s Old Bailey court.

“The main targets of their attack plans were the Jewish community in the north-west of England, as well as members of the police and military.”

A third man, Walid Saadaoui’s younger brother Bilel, 35, was also charged with failing to disclose information about a terrorist attack. The men, who are in custody and appeared via video link for Friday’s hearing, have not yet commented on the charges.

Judge Jeremy Baker told the men their trial was scheduled for October next year and they would next appear in court on October 25.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Sarah Young)