19/11/2025
FORMER GREAT YARMOUTH RESTAURANT OWNER ON TRIAL FOR ALLEGED TERROR PLOT 🚨 ⚠️ 🚨
Local business owners have been reacting in shock, but the public still hasn’t seen the full picture.
Here’s what the court evidence actually shows so far:
🔹 WHO HE IS
Walid Saadaoui, 38
• Tunisian national
• Arrived in the UK in 2012 on a work visa
• Worked at Haven Holiday Village (Essex), then shops, bakery, amusement arcade
• Later moved into catering and restaurant ownership
🔹 GREAT YARMOUTH CONNECTION
• Bought The Albatross Italian restaurant on Regent Road around 2018
• Purchased using a bank loan
• Ran the business for several years
• Community knew him as a “friendly” owner with a wife + two children
• Sold the restaurant and left the region months before the alleged terror plot began
🔹 WHAT HE’S ACCUSED OF
The prosecution alleges he:
• Intended to carry out a mass-casualty gun attack targeting Jewish people
• Sought to obtain four AK-47s, two handguns, and 1,200 rounds of ammunition
• Withdrew approx £70,000 in cash after selling his GY business
• Attempted to use that money to purchase the weapons
• Posted and shared ISIS-aligned messaging, “lone wolf” instructions, and pro-jihad content
• Planned the attack between Dec 2023 – May 2024
He denies all charges.
🔹 CO-DEFENDANTS
Amar Hussain, 52
• Previously worked in Bolton appliance stores
• Alleged to have supported or assisted elements of the plot
Bilel Saadaoui, 36
• Walid’s brother
• Accused of failing to disclose terror-related information
• Denies wrongdoing
🔹 MOVEMENT TIMELINE
2012–2018
• Arrives in UK → hospitality work → catering → restaurant
2018–2023
• Runs The Albatross, well-known on Regent Road
2023 (late)
• Sells the restaurant
• Withdraws large amounts of cash
• Leaves Great Yarmouth → moves to Wigan / Manchester region
Dec 2023 → May 2024
• Alleged preparation for a firearm-based mass-casualty attack
• Radical posts online
• Contact with alleged co-conspirators
• Weapons-related discussions / attempts
🔹 DIGITAL FOOTPRINT (ALLEGED)
Court evidence includes:
• Social media posts praising ISIS
• Messages encouraging “lone wolf” action
• Advice on avoiding cameras, staying anonymous, operating via VPN
• Phrases such as:
“A book that guides and a sword that delivers victory.”
🔹 WHAT’S NOT CLEAR YET
• Whether concrete weapons were purchased
• Whether a specific target location was locked
• The internal structure of his wider network (if any)
• Why he built a calm local profile here before moving north
Trial ongoing, more evidence to come.
Images: Counter Terrorism Police North West)
🔹 WHY GYP IS COVERING THIS
Because this isn’t just a Manchester story.
It’s a Great Yarmouth origin story, the public has a right to see the whole structure, not just the edited summary.
GYP documents what mainstream glosses over.
Stay aware.
Stay informed.
Local stories aren’t small, they’re the first ripple.
Images: Counter Terrorism Police North West
