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Alleged Islamic State fanatics laughed as they discussed forming a 'terrorist gang' while conducting a reconnaissance mission at the port of Dover before smuggling guns into the county for a devastating attack on Jewish communities in north Manchester, a jury heard. Tunisia-born former restaurateur Walid Saadaoui and Iraq-raised Amar Hussein were unaware their conversation was being recorded by an undercover operative posing as a jihadi when the trio visited Dover for two hours in March 2024, a court was told. When counter terror cops arrested him in May 2024, Mr Saadaoui tried to flee but officers found two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol and almost 200 rounds of ammunition in his car, the court has been told. He was awaiting delivery of a further two assault rifles, another pistol and more ammunition to lunch a terror attack to kills 'as many Jews as possible' in Prestwich , Higher Broughton and Cheetham Hill in the summer of 2024, according to the Crown. As the trial of Mr Saadaoui and his co-defendant Amar Hussein - who deny terror charges - continued today, an undercover operative named only 'Farouk' began his seventh day in the witness box. The agent, giving evidence from behind a screen, told the jurors about a trip the three men made to Dover on March 16, 2024. The prosecution say the trio conducted reconnaissance on the port ahead of the smuggling of the first tranche of guns on May 8. Questioned by prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC, Farouk told the jury that he told the two defendants that his guns contact, the 'Algerian middleman', had advised them not transfer the weapons from one car to another immediately after the guns had been smuggled through the port. Amar Hussein was captured saying 'he's right' when Farouk said they should travel to Manchester before removing the guns from one car boot to another close to the port. Farouk had told the two defendants they should avoid the 'risk area'. "I told him I was advised not to do this as it would raise suspicions if someone sees us exchanging boot to toot. Amar Hussein was saying the person who gave us this advice was right," Farouk told the court. Farouk was captured telling the defendants: "Praise be to god - you found the place which he sent me. He told me to go to it." Walid Hussein was said to have replied: "Yeah, yeah, I checked on the internet and said that this is the most suitable location. There is no better point than this one, you know?" The jury heard that Amar Hussein expressed concern about smuggling the guns into England and the attack should take place in France. When Walid Saadaoui queried this, Amar Hussein was captured saying: "Yeah honestly, here it is risky. I am not liking this. Why risk it and bring the weapons and all that? You paid an amount, it reached France, that's where we should do it." Walid replied 'honestly sheikh' and he went on: "Our hearts are full for these non believers." Amar Hussein suggested it was 'dangerous' to carry out an attack in England but Walid went on that 'and here in Manchester they have the second largest Jewish community'. "No honestly?" Amar Hussein said and Walid replied 'yeah' and Amar said 'ahhh'. But Amar Hussein continued to suggest the attack should take place in France and he was captured telling the two men: "I mean as long as things are there, - thank God – it’s there anyway… do it there my brother. Honestly. The main thing is that we kill those ones, we slaughter the non-believers. The Jews and the non-believers. Over there, God will help in our success. Other people after us will do it.” The jurors were told that at one stage all three men were laughing when the trio agreed they would carry out an attack. Walid said: "We have decided, that's it. We will carry on like this and it'll be fine god willing." Amar Hussein said: "God Willing, honestly." Farouk: "It'll be fine, rejoice, rejoice, Ammar." Later Walid said: "We're involved in it... Us, like this, are involved in it (all laughing). The creation of a terrorist gang (all laughing)." Walid Saadoui suggested to the two men they would 'find a Jewish gathering, we will dress like them with the hat and everything'. Farouk told the jury the defendant was talking about 'blending in' with members of the Jewish community before launching an attack. After he had taken a video of the port on his mobile phone, Walid told Amar Hussein to delete pictures he had taken with his phone as a 'safety measure', the jurors were told. "You are not in it. No voice nor that," Mr Hussein told the two men adding that would delete them. Walid Saadaoui was captured telling the two others about a terror attack in Tunisia where an attacker had a machine gun 'hidden in a towel' on a beach. He found people on the beach and 'implemented on them', he was said to have told the others. The jurors are told the defendant was captured saying: "God, my brother. He takes out the magazine from his pocket like this and in his mind he changes and moves like this and like that, tac tac tac tac tac. The magazine empties, he stops, he changes, praise by to God." As he discussed another attack in Tunisia when fighters were killed Walid 'was visibly upset and started crying', Farouk told the court. On the journey back to the north from Dover Farouk said Walid Saadaoui was singing along to a 'nasheed', or religious song. Mr Saadaoui and Mr Hussein have pleaded not guilty to preparation of terrorist acts, namely that between December 13, 2023, and May 9, 2024, with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, they arranged for the purchase and delivery of firearms, conducted reconnaissance and made plans of attack. The court has heard that Mr Saadaoui's defence is that he was being pressured by others and that he planned to sabotage the plot and alert the police. Walid’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, from Hindley, Wigan, has pleaded not guilty to a single charge of failing to disclose acts of terrorism between the same dates. Proceeding
