The moment alleged Islamic state supporter said to be plotting terror attack tried to run from police as he was arrested

Walid Saadaoui was arrested in the car park of a hotel in Bolton

A court has been shown footage of the moment an alleged Islamic state supporter said to be plotting a terrorist attack was arrested next to a car containing two machine guns.

Walid Saadaoui was detained by police in the car park of a hotel in Bolton on May 8, 2024.

The 38-year-old, of Crankwood Road, Abram, Wigan, and his co-accused, Amar Hussein, 52, of no fixed abode, deny terror charges.

Mr Saadaoui’s brother Bilel Saadaoui also denies failing to disclose acts of terrorism. The trio are standing trial at Preston Crown Court.

Prosecutors allege that Walid Saadaoui was preparing to become a ‘martyr’ during an attack on members of north Manchester’s Jewish community last summer. An undercover operative who is said to have uncovered the plot by posing as a jihadi, named only as Farouk, continued to give evidence in court.

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Farouk told Mr Saddaoui that he would import machine guns into the country from Europe. The court heard that Walid Saadaoui was arrested in the car park of the The Last Drop Hotel and Spa at 7.17pm. Amar Hussein and Bilel Saddaoui, who were both elsewhere, were arrested minutes later.

Jurors heard a call said to have been made between Walid Saadaoui and Farouk minutes before the defendant was arrested. “When you get there, call me and I will tell you where to go,” Farouk said.

The pair then met in person shortly after, jurors heard. Farouk said it was the first time they had physically met since February 15.

“That’s the first time since that meeting that I saw him a little bit jumpy when he left his vehicle,” Farouk said. “Once he was happy and he got in the vehicle he was a little bit emotional.

“We hugged each other for what seemed like a long time. When he parked his vehicle next to mine, when he got out of his car he didn’t just come to me, I saw him look around.

“He was a little bit teary. I believe it was a relief hug.” Farouk told the court that Mr Saadaoui, driving a Peugeot 308, had parked next to his Lexus in the car park. Farouk said his vehicle contained the weapons.

Farouk said: “We were standing by the vehicle looking at the machine guns and police arrived from the side. I saw Walid Saadaoui run away from the police when they went to grab him.

“At that point the police took me down to the floor so I couldn’t see what was happening. I could hear there was some commotion.”

Farouk told jurors that he shouted ‘you have deceived me, o deceiver’. “I shouted that part towards Walid Saadaoui,” he said.

Prosecutor Hardeep Sandhu KC asked him: “Were you still in the role at that time?” Farouk replied: “I was suggesting he was the one who brought the police, yes.”

Walid Saadaoui and Amar 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.