A chilling plot to arm extremists has been dismantled following a guilty verdict delivered today at Preston Crown Court. Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were convicted after a trial that revealed a dangerous pursuit of firearms intended for illicit use.
The investigation began months prior, uncovering a calculated scheme by Saadaoui, a father of two originally from Tunisia, to acquire weapons. He’d already paid a deposit, believing he was arranging an importation through a fellow extremist – a figure who turned out to be an undercover operative known only as “Farouk.”
Saadaoui’s ambition wasn’t limited to a single source. He brazenly discussed obtaining a firearm independently through Sweden, and even explored bringing weapons across borders from eastern Europe, revealing a wide-ranging and determined effort to amass an arsenal.
Beyond these clandestine communications, Saadaoui took concrete steps. He purchased an air weapon and actively sought practice, visiting a shooting range – actions that painted a clear picture of preparation and intent.
Hussein’s role in the conspiracy was equally damning, solidifying the prosecution’s case and ultimately leading to the guilty verdict alongside Saadaoui. The details of their combined efforts exposed a network of dangerous intentions now brought to light.
The conviction marks a significant victory for law enforcement, disrupting a potentially devastating act of violence and preventing these weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The full extent of the planned operation and its potential targets remain under investigation.
