U.K. police accuse 2 Iranian men of planning terror attack on Manchester’s Jewish community
Iranian Nationals Charged Over Alleged Plot Targeting Manchester’s Jewish Community
Wertynews.com – British counterterrorism police have charged two Iranian nationals over an alleged plan to carry out an attack against the Jewish community in Manchester, raising fresh concern in a city still marked by last year’s deadly synagogue violence.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, who lives in Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, were detained in Manchester on Sept. 20. Both men face allegations connected to a planned terrorist attack. Authorities have not disclosed the intended target, method, or timeline of the alleged operation, but have said the plot was stopped.
The case has particular resonance in northern England because it emerges almost one year after the Oct. 2, 2025 attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. Worshippers had gathered there for Yom Kippur, the most sacred date in the Jewish religious calendar, when a knife and gun attack killed two people.
Police Say Alleged Contact Reached Overseas
The Metropolitan Police said the investigation indicates that Ahmadyan and Salehi were in touch with an overseas third party who may be located in Iran. Officials have not released further information about that alleged contact or any evidence supporting the charge.
“It is alleged that the two men were in contact with an overseas third-party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot,” the Metropolitan Police said.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said police do not believe the case presents a continuing danger to the wider public. Her statement sought to reassure residents while recognizing that news of an alleged plot would be troubling for Jewish people across the country, especially in Manchester.
“We do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter,” Evans said.
The two defendants are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. The court hearing is expected to begin the formal legal process, and the charges remain allegations that must be tested in court.
Timing Adds to Anxiety After Jewish Holidays
Home Minister Shabana Mahmood said the arrests would be painful news for Jewish communities after the recent observance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The timing is especially sensitive in Manchester, where the anniversary of the Heaton Park Synagogue attack has renewed memories of the two people killed there.
“This news will be deeply distressing for our Jewish communities, coming so soon after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” Mahmood said. “I know this will be especially true in Manchester, as we mark one year since the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.”
Mahmood also said both suspects had reached Britain by small boat several years earlier. She linked the case to the government’s efforts against illegal migration, describing it as a reminder of the importance of sustained action on the issue.
The alleged Manchester plot arrives during a period of heightened concern over attacks and threats involving Jewish or Israel-linked sites in Britain. The past year has included several incidents in London focused on such locations, adding pressure on authorities to maintain visible security and close coordination with affected communities.
Separate RAF Fairford Investigations
The charges also follow a series of other recent terrorism-related investigations connected to RAF Fairford in England. On Sept. 27, five British men in their mid-20s were arrested in a village near the base on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. They were later released on bail.
RAF Fairford has been used by U.S. bombers launching attacks on Iran during the Middle East war, making it a location of strategic and political significance. On Thursday, authorities arrested a dual British-Iranian national on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack at the air base.
It remains unclear whether the person detained in the RAF Fairford case has any link to the five men arrested near the base in September. No connection between those investigations and the alleged Manchester plot has been publicly established.
U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government believes Iran “played a part” in the Sept. 27 incident. Iran’s government has rejected any involvement.
What the Case Means for Manchester
For Manchester’s Jewish residents, the latest charges may revive fears created by the Heaton Park attack while also underlining the role of early intervention in counterterrorism cases. Police have emphasized that the alleged plan was disrupted and that they see no ongoing public threat connected with this investigation.
The coming court proceedings may provide more clarity about the alleged target, the nature of the claimed overseas communication, and the extent of the planning authorities say they uncovered. Until then, the public account remains limited, with investigators balancing reassurance and the need to protect an active legal case.
Community safety measures, public vigilance, and careful communication from authorities are likely to remain central concerns as Manchester approaches the anniversary of the synagogue attack and Jewish communities continue to process the impact of renewed threats.
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