Manchester Terror Arrests: Police Confirm Wider Searches 2026

Key Points

• Two individuals who were arrested in Manchester city centre are still under arrest and are being questioned.
• The individuals were arrested by counter-terrorist police on Newton Street in the Northern Quarter on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
• An investigation was conducted at a property located at Lancaster Road in Salford.
• The police stated that another investigation was taking place at Epworth Street in Liverpool.
• However, details of the suspected terrorist offences are still unknown.
• According to Counter Terrorism Policing, there is no indication of any potential threat to the general population.
• Currently, the UK national terrorism threat level is at severe, indicating that an attack is likely to happen.
• The arrest took place while the Jewish community celebrates the Day of Atonement and the first anniversary of the deadly attack in Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue.
• The police encouraged anyone who has any information to contact ACT or Anti-Terrorist Hotline.

Manchester Crime (Manchester Mirror) September 21, 2026 — Counter-terrorism police have confirmed that two men arrested in Manchester city centre remain in custody while searches continue at addresses in Salford and Liverpool.

The arrests were made on Sunday afternoon, 20 September, on Newton Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. According to the Manchester Evening News, the two men were detained at approximately 2.34pm during an operation involving counter-terrorism officers.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that both men remained in custody as the investigation continued. Officers also confirmed searches at Lancaster Road in Salford and Epworth Street in Liverpool.

Police have not released the men’s identities, ages or nationalities. They have also not provided details about the alleged terrorist activity being investigated.

Authorities said there was no information to suggest that the arrests were connected to a wider threat to the public.

Where were the suspects arrested?

The two men were arrested on Newton Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, a busy central area known for restaurants, bars, shops and offices.

The Manchester Evening News reported that officers moved into the area on Sunday afternoon in what was described as a counter-terrorism operation. The arrests formed part of an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing.

The police presence attracted attention because of the location and the nature of the operation. However, the authorities have not said that members of the public were in immediate danger during the arrests.

The subsequent searches in Salford and Liverpool suggest that investigators are examining more than one location. Police have not said whether the addresses are residential properties, commercial premises or locations connected to the two detained men.

What searches are taking place in Salford and Liverpool?

Counter-terrorism officers continued searching a location on Lancaster Road in Salford and another site on Epworth Street in Liverpool, according to the update reported by the Manchester Evening News.

The searches are being conducted as part of the same ongoing investigation. Police have not said what they are looking for or whether any items have been seized.

Searches of this kind can be used by investigators to gather evidence, establish links between suspects and locations, or assess whether a suspected offence involved other people or materials. In this case, however, the police have not publicly explained the purpose of the searches.

The Metropolitan Police said further information could not be released while the investigation remained active.

What have police said about the investigation?

A statement attributed to the Metropolitan Police said that two individuals were taken into custody on Newton Street in Manchester as part of an ongoing investigation.

The statement said the arrests were made at approximately 2.45pm on Sunday, 20 September, although the initial report placed the arrests at about 2.34pm. It described the men as being detained on suspicion of offences under terrorism legislation.

The wording of the police statement reproduced in the Manchester Evening News contained incomplete references to the specific section of the legislation. The authorities have not publicly clarified which exact offences are being considered.

The Metropolitan Police said the operation was being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, working with Counter Terrorism Policing North and Greater Manchester Police.

The statement said both men remained in police custody and that searches were under way at Epworth Street in Liverpool and Lancaster Road in Salford.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, police said:

“There is no information indicating any broader threat to public safety.”

The force also acknowledged that counter-terrorism activity could cause concern and said officers were working with law-enforcement partners across the country to protect the public.

Why has the operation raised concern in Manchester?

The arrests took place while Jewish communities were observing Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish religious calendar.

The timing has also drawn attention because it came shortly before the first anniversary of the terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue. The Manchester Evening News noted that the development occurred during a period when Jewish communities were already facing heightened anxiety and commemorating the anniversary of a serious terrorist incident.

Police have not said that the arrests were connected to the synagogue attack, Yom Kippur or any particular religious community. No such link has been established by the authorities.

The investigation remains separate from public speculation. Until police or prosecutors provide further information, the precise motive, target and circumstances surrounding the arrests remain unknown.

What is the UK terrorism threat level?

The national terrorism threat level remains severe. The classification means that an attack is considered highly likely.

The threat level is separate from the specific investigation in Manchester, Salford and Liverpool. A severe national assessment does not mean police have confirmed an imminent attack in those locations.

The police statement said there was no information to suggest a wider threat to the public. Officers have not announced any additional public safety restrictions arising from the arrests.

Counter-terrorism investigations can continue for a significant period while officers gather evidence and interview suspects. The fact that two people remain in custody does not mean they have been charged or found guilty of an offence.

What should members of the public do?

Police have asked anyone with information or concerns related to terrorism to report them through the official ACT reporting service or by calling the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

The authorities have not advised the public to avoid Manchester city centre, Salford or Liverpool because of this investigation. They have instead stressed that there is no information indicating a wider threat.

Members of the public should rely on official police updates rather than unverified information circulating online. Counter-terrorism operations can generate rumours, particularly when searches take place at multiple addresses, but police have not released enough information to confirm the reasons for the individual searches.

The investigation is continuing, and further updates may depend on developments in custody, searches and the assessment of evidence.

What happens next in the investigation?

The two men are expected to remain in police custody while investigators conduct interviews and assess material recovered during the searches.

Police may later confirm whether the men are released without charge, released on bail, charged with terrorism offences or held for a longer period under applicable legal powers. At the time of the reported update, no charges had been announced.

Officers are also likely to examine whether the Salford and Liverpool locations are connected to the suspects, to each other or to the alleged activity under investigation. Police may provide additional information if doing so does not compromise the inquiry.

The Metropolitan Police said it was unable to disclose further details because the investigation was ongoing.

Background: How are UK counter-terrorism investigations conducted?

Counter Terrorism Policing is a national network that works with regional police forces and other security agencies on terrorism-related investigations. Operations can involve officers from several areas when suspects, evidence or relevant locations are spread across different parts of the country.

An arrest on suspicion of a terrorism offence is an investigative step, not a finding of guilt. Police must gather evidence and follow legal procedures before prosecutors decide whether charges should be brought.

Searches are generally authorised under relevant legal powers and may be used to locate evidence, identify additional suspects or establish how an alleged offence was planned. The public release of information is often limited while searches, interviews and forensic examinations are under way.

The severe national terrorism threat level provides the broader security context but does not, by itself, establish a connection between this operation and any particular incident or community. In the Manchester case, police have specifically said that there is no information suggesting a wider threat to the public.

Prediction: What could the Manchester terror arrests mean for local communities?

The immediate effect on residents and visitors is likely to be increased police activity around the locations involved, particularly if searches continue or access restrictions are introduced. Any disruption would be expected to remain focused on Newton Street, Lancaster Road and Epworth Street unless authorities announce otherwise.

Jewish communities in Greater Manchester and beyond may experience heightened concern because the operation coincided with Yom Kippur and the anniversary period of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue attack. Police visibility and communication with community organisations may therefore become more prominent.

For the wider public, the most likely short-term impact is uncertainty rather than a confirmed change to daily life. Since authorities have said there is no information indicating a broader threat, there is currently no stated basis for the public to alter normal activities.

The investigation could also lead to further arrests, additional searches or formal charges if police identify supporting evidence. Equally, the suspects could be released without charge if investigators do not establish sufficient grounds. Until the police provide more information, those outcomes remain uncertain.