Solidarity and Vigilance in British Jewish Community Targeted by Islamic State Plot
An Islamic State sleeper cell in Greater Manchester plotted a mass firearms attack aimed at killing Jews, but the plot was thwarted. Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were convicted on terrorism offences connected to this conspiracy. Despite these threats, the Orthodox Jewish community in Salford remained engaged with their neighbours and focused on everyday life.
The Hershel Weiss Centre, which serves around 650 families including ultra-Orthodox and Muslim women, expanded from a single room into a council-funded hub offering a variety of services. For Hanukah, the centre launched the Spread a Little Light project. Salford Shomrim, a volunteer neighbourhood watch group, reported a rise in calls about suspicious activity and continued its rapid response coordination with the police.
According to 2024 data from the Community Security Trust (CST), cases of anti-Jewish hate linked to far-right ideology are more numerous than those related to Islamist extremism. However, Islamist plots remain among the most violent. The CST emphasized the importance of disrupting hostile reconnaissance efforts and adopting a broader strategic approach to counter extremism.
Community leaders have called for a new UK extremism strategy that carefully distinguishes ideology from religion, while ensuring protection of plural Jewish and Muslim voices. In the face of threats, the community expressed resilience, underscoring solidarity and vigilance as key to continuing their lives safely.
