Italian Restaurant Owner Charged Over Terror Plot Targeting Jews in Great Yarmouth
Plot to Shoot Jews Foiled by Undercover Police
Walid Saadaoui, 38, the owner of an Italian restaurant in Great Yarmouth, faces terror charges for allegedly planning a mass shooting targeting Jewish people. Court heard Saadaoui intended to inflict “untold harm” and kill as many Jewish individuals as possible in a horrific gun attack.
The father of two denies preparing terrorist acts between December 2023 and May 2024. Police stopped the attack before it could happen, thanks to an undercover operative who exposed Saadaoui’s chilling scheme.
From Entertainer to Restaurateur
In a Preston Crown Court hearing, Saadaoui revealed his journey. The Tunisian national arrived in the UK in 2012 with his first wife, Jane, whom he had met in Tunisia. He used to work as a hotel entertainer, organising dance shows, quizzes and water aerobics. After getting a work visa, the couple settled in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, where he held various jobs at a holiday park.
Saadaoui saved diligently and in 2018 bought The Albatross restaurant in Great Yarmouth with a bank loan. He trained as a chef and told jurors, “I wanted to progress in life. I wanted to be my own boss.”
After his first marriage ended, he met his second wife, Michelle, an employee at the restaurant. The couple now has two children. Saadaoui described the business as “very successful,” hosting weddings and birthday parties with a loyal customer base.
Co-Defendants and Ongoing Trial
Prosecutors also charged Amar Hussain, 52, with preparing terrorist acts; he denies the allegations. Additionally, Saadaoui’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, faces charges of failing to disclose information about terrorist plans. The family moved to Abram, Wigan, in 2023.
Walid Saadaoui will continue giving evidence at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday.
