Two Iranian men have been charged over an alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community, police have said. The Metropolitan Police said the alleged plan had been disrupted and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, were arrested in Manchester on September 20. Both men are Iranian nationals.
Police said the suspects were allegedly in contact with an overseas third party “who may be in Iran” in connection with the plot. They have not released details of the alleged attack.
The charges come almost a year after two people were killed in a knife and gun attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in northern Manchester, where worshippers had gathered for Yom Kippur.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said: “We do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the arrests would be “deeply distressing” for Jewish communities, particularly in Manchester as the first anniversary of the Heaton Park synagogue attack approaches.
She also said both suspects had arrived in the UK by small boat several years ago, describing the detail as “a reminder of the importance of our relentless work to tackle illegal migration into this country”.
Ahmadyan and Salehi are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
The arrests follow other terrorism investigations in England. Five British men were arrested on September 27 in a village near RAF Fairford on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, but were later released on bail.
A dual UK-Iranian national was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of plotting an attack at the air base. It is not clear whether that suspect was connected to the earlier case.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the British Government believed Iran had “played a part” in the September 27 incident. Iran’s government has denied any involvement.
