Restaurant Owner Accused of Planning Mass Shooting
A Great Yarmouth Italian restaurant owner stands accused of plotting a gun attack on a mass gathering of Jewish people, Preston Crown Court heard this week. Walid Saadaoui, 38, allegedly intended to cause 'untold harm' and kill as many Jewish people as possible in a planned atrocity.
The married father-of-two has pleaded not guilty to preparing acts of terrorism between December 2023 and May 2024. The court was told that undercover police officers successfully thwarted the alleged plot before it could be carried out.
From Hotel Entertainer to Business Owner
Giving evidence on Tuesday, the Tunisian national detailed his journey to the UK, explaining how he arrived in 2012 with his first wife, Jane, whom he met in his home country. Saadaoui described his previous work as a hotel entertainer, where he helped stage dance shows, quiz contests and water aerobics.
After successfully obtaining a work visa, the couple settled in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, where Saadaoui found employment at a Haven Holiday Village. He worked extra hours across various departments including shops, the bakery and the arcade to save money before pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions.
In 2018, with the assistance of a bank loan, Saadaoui purchased The Albatross restaurant on Regent Road in Great Yarmouth. 'I wanted to progress in life,' he told jurors. 'I wanted to be my own boss.' The court heard he trained as a chef to run the establishment.
Family Life and Business Success
Saadaoui revealed that his first marriage had ended earlier in 2018, and he later met his second wife, Michelle, who was already working at the restaurant. The couple have since had two children together and moved to Abram, Wigan, in 2023.
Under questioning from his barrister, Felicity Gerry KC, Saadaoui described The Albatross as a 'very successful business' with a strong customer base that hosted wedding ceremonies and birthday parties. When asked if he was happy, Saadaoui simply replied: 'Very.'
The restaurant had been established for 17 years by the previous owner before Saadaoui took over the business, the court heard.
Co-defendants and Ongoing Trial
Prosecutors allege that police prevented the plans of Saadaoui and his co-defendant, 52-year-old Amar Hussain, from becoming a tragic reality after they unknowingly revealed their scheme to an undercover operative.
Hussain, of no fixed address, also denies preparing acts of terrorism. A third defendant, Saadaoui's 36-year-old brother Bilel Saadaoui of Hindley, Wigan, has pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism during the same period.
Walid Saadaoui is scheduled to continue giving evidence on Wednesday as the trial at Preston Crown Court progresses.
