A UK court, on Friday, jailed two men, Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein, who were inspired by Islamic State, for plotting to attack the Jewish community in Manchester.

Preston Crown Court heard that Mr Saadaoui, 38, and Mr Hussein, 52, planned to smuggle guns into the UK to execute an “Isis-inspired plot” that could have been “the UK’s most deadly terror attack.”

They were caught by an undercover operative who played a “crucial role” in foiling their plans, Greater Manchester Police said.

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

No specific attack 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.

At the sentencing hearing, Justice Wall said the attack planned by the duo could have led to the deaths of many if it had not been foiled.

“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,” Mr Wall said.

He added, “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.”

In 2024, the UK’s counter-terrorism police foiled the planned attack, arresting Mr Saadaoui at a hotel car park in Bolton as he went to collect some of the ammunition for the planned attack.

Mr Saadaoui’s 36-year-old younger brother, Bilel Saadaoui, and Mr Hussein were also nabbed at the hotel car park on the same day.