Two Iranian nationals have been charged over an alleged terrorist plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community ahead of Yom Kippur, Counter Terrorism Policing said.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, and Rahman Salehi, 34, were arrested in the city’s Northern Quarter on September 20 and charged earlier today.
Police said the men were allegedly in contact with an overseas third party in connection with the suspected plot. The party may have been linked to Iran, although Tehran has denied claims of involvement in other recent events.
It is understood the pair arrived in the UK by small boat in 2020 and 2023. One was granted asylum, while the other has an active asylum claim.
The charges come shortly after five men were arrested over an alleged plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. A dual British-Iranian national was also arrested yesterday in connection with that investigation.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the latest development would be “deeply distressing” for Jewish communities, particularly in Manchester.
“This news will be deeply distressing for our Jewish communities, coming so soon after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” she said. “I know this will be especially true in Manchester, as we mark one year since the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.”
Officers said the two men had allegedly obtained a document titled “steps for making [a] powder chlorine and car brake oil/fluid bomb”, as well as video instructions for making or assembling an improvised explosive device.
The charges allege that they researched possible targets online and carried out reconnaissance of locations linked to the suspected attack.
Deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described the charges as “extremely serious”. She said officers had disrupted what they believed was a plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community.
Ms Evans said police did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public, but acknowledged the arrests had caused “a great deal of concern” among Jewish people and the wider community.
Greater Manchester Police deputy chief constable Terry Woods said officers would maintain a visible presence around Jewish communities and continue working with community leaders, the Community Security Trust and counter-terrorism officers.
He said: “We know how concerning this news will be to Jewish communities in Greater Manchester, and beyond.
“We know this is particularly acute on the calendar anniversary of last year’s terrorist atrocity at the Heaton Park synagogue and during the Jewish High Holy Days.”
Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, said the arrests had come at an “incredibly concerning time” for British Jews, almost a year after Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed in the Heaton Park attack.
He said security measures could only address the symptoms of hatred and extremism, adding that the Government must do more to prevent people from being motivated to attack Jews.
The Heaton Park attack took place during Yom Kippur last year. Islamic State supporter Jihad Al-Shamie tried to force his way into the synagogue, having already stabbed Mr Cravitz, 66.
Mr Daulby, 53, was fatally shot by a police marksman as he helped barricade the doors. Another man, Yoni Finlay, 39, was also hit but survived.
The latest alleged plot would be the third time the Manchester Jewish community has been targeted by terrorists in two years. In February, Walid Saadaoui was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 37 years, while Amar Hussein received a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years, after an earlier planned attack was foiled.
Both Ahmadyan and Salehi face allegations and are yet to have the case against them tested in court.
