Police Extend Detention in Manchester Terror Investigation 2026

Key Points

• Both of these men in their 30s are still held in police custody following the Manchester terrorism arrests.
• The two suspects were arrested at Newton Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on 20 September 2026.
• According to Counter Terrorism Policing, this investigation involves an alleged planned attack on the Jewish community of Manchester.
• Westminster Magistrates’ Court issued the necessary warrants permitting both men to be kept in custody until 4 October.
• Warrants were issued at Salford and Liverpool, while the other searches are believed to involve Cheetham Hill and Heaton Park.
• There are no reports from police indicating that there is an imminent threat to the general public.
• This investigation has been termed a lengthy proactive operation by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans.
• Greater Manchester Police, Merseyside Police and counter-terrorism team in the North West have joined the investigation.
• The arrests have come only just before Yom Kippur which is the holiest day in the Jewish year.
• Police have asked anyone with any information to approach the relevant authorities.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 28, 2026 – Two men arrested during the Manchester terrorism arrests remain in custody after police obtained further detention warrants, with investigators now able to hold them until Sunday, 4 October, as enquiries continue into a suspected plot targeting the Jewish community.

The latest development was reported by the Manchester Evening News on 27 September, following confirmation from the Metropolitan Police that Westminster Magistrates’ Court had granted the warrants on Saturday, 26 September. The newspaper reported that the men, both aged in their 30s, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in Manchester city centre.

The Metropolitan Police separately said the arrests formed part of a Counter Terrorism Policing London investigation. In a statement published on 22 September, the force said the two men had been arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and remained in police custody.

Why have the two men been kept in custody?

The two suspects were arrested at about 2.45pm on Sunday, 20 September, on Newton Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. The area was subsequently cordoned off as officers carried out the operation.

According to the Manchester Evening News, further detention warrants were secured at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 26 September. The warrants mean the men can remain in custody until 4 October while detectives continue to question them and pursue further lines of enquiry.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the newspaper:

“Warrants of further detention were obtained at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 26 September in relation to both suspects, who remain in police custody at this time.”

The spokesperson added:

“The warrants mean the men can be detained by police up until Sunday, 4 October. The investigation is ongoing and officers continue to pursue a number of lines of enquiry.”

The men have not been charged. An arrest or detention under terrorism legislation does not itself establish that an offence has been committed, and the investigation remains ongoing.

What is the suspected Manchester terrorism plot?

The Metropolitan Police said the investigation relates to a suspected terrorist plot targeting the Jewish community in the Manchester area.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said the arrests followed a “long-running proactive investigation”. In a statement quoted by the Metropolitan Police and reported by Reuters, she said the operation had disrupted what officers believed to be a plot to target Jewish people in Manchester.

The police statement did not provide details about the suspected method, intended location or alleged involvement of either man. No specific target has been publicly identified by investigators.

The Manchester Evening News reported that sources close to the investigation believed the alleged threat had been thwarted. However, the newspaper also said the investigation was expected to extend into Cheetham Hill and Heaton Park.

The Metropolitan Police has not publicly confirmed the full scope of those reported enquiries.

Where were searches carried out?

Police searches took place at addresses in Salford and Liverpool after the arrests.

The Metropolitan Police said searches at Epworth Street in Liverpool and Lancaster Road in Salford had been completed by 22 September. Reuters also reported that searches had been conducted in both locations.

The investigation is being supported by Counter Terrorism Policing North West, Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police. The involvement of forces from different areas reflects the cross-border nature of the enquiries, although police have not released details of any evidence recovered during the searches.

The force has not announced further arrests in connection with the investigation.

What did Counter Terrorism Policing say?

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said police were aware that news of the arrests could cause concern within the Jewish community and among the wider public.

As reported in the Metropolitan Police statement, Evans said officers were working closely with Greater Manchester Police and other partners to protect Jewish communities, particularly during the Jewish High Holy Day period.

She said:

“We are acutely aware this news will cause further concern to the Jewish community, as well as the wider public, especially given the significant High Holy day period.”

Evans added that counter-terrorism officers across the country were working with local forces to provide protective security support and advice in areas with Jewish communities.

She also said police would act when they suspected a threat to the public, adding that officers would not hesitate to investigate and take action.

The Metropolitan Police said officers did not believe there was any ongoing threat to the public in relation to the investigation. However, the force asked people to remain vigilant and report concerns.

What does Section 41 of the Terrorism Act mean?

The two men were arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Section 41 gives officers the power to arrest a person suspected of being a terrorist without a warrant. The use of the power indicates that police considered the arrests necessary within the counter-terrorism investigation, but it does not amount to a conviction or a finding of guilt.

The suspects were initially taken to a London police station, where the Metropolitan Police said they remained in custody. Further detention warrants were later obtained to allow officers to continue holding them beyond the initial period permitted after arrest.

The police have not identified the men by name, and no charges have been announced.

Did police say there was a wider threat?

No. Counter Terrorism Policing said it did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public connected with the investigation.

The earlier police update said:

“Importantly, we do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter, but as ever, we would ask that people remain vigilant and contact police with any concerns.”

The Manchester Evening News reported that the national terrorism threat level remained at “severe”. That level means an attack is considered highly likely, but it is a nationwide assessment and does not indicate that a specific attack is imminent in Manchester.

Police also increased protective security measures around Jewish communities during the period leading up to Yom Kippur.

Why did the arrests cause particular concern?

The arrests took place shortly before Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The timing heightened concern because Jewish communities were preparing to attend religious services and gatherings.

Reuters reported that the arrests came almost a year after an attack at a synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur in which two Jewish worshippers were killed. The report identified the victims as Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby.

According to Reuters, the earlier attack was committed by a British citizen of Syrian descent who said he was acting for Islamic State. The report also noted a broader rise in antisemitism in Britain since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Reuters reported that Britain had also experienced arson attacks against targets linked to the Jewish community in London and that two Jewish men were stabbed in April in what police described as a suspected terrorist incident.

Those developments form part of the wider security context surrounding the latest Manchester investigation, but police have not publicly stated that the current suspects are connected to any previous attack.

How can people report information?

The Metropolitan Police has asked people with information or concerns to report them through the government’s Action Counters Terrorism service or by calling police confidentially on 0800 789 321.

Anyone facing an immediate emergency should call 999.

Police have not asked members of the public to approach or confront anyone they believe may be connected to the investigation. Information should be passed to the authorities so it can be assessed safely.

Background to the Manchester investigation

The operation began with the arrest of two men on Newton Street in Manchester city centre on 20 September 2026. Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing arrested them at about 2.45pm under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The arrests were followed by searches in Salford and Liverpool. The Metropolitan Police initially said both men remained in custody while the investigation continued. On 22 September, officers obtained warrants of further detention allowing them to hold the suspects until 27 September.

On 26 September, further warrants were obtained at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The new warrants extended the permitted detention period until 4 October.

The Metropolitan Police described the operation as a long-running proactive investigation and said it had disrupted what officers believed was a plot against the Jewish community in the Manchester area. Greater Manchester Police, Merseyside Police and Counter Terrorism Policing North West are assisting.

As of 28 September, the suspects remain in custody and have not been charged. Police say the investigation continues and that there is no known ongoing threat to the wider public linked to the case.news.met+2

What could the development mean for Manchester’s Jewish community?

The extended detention is likely to mean continued police activity and heightened protective security around Jewish community sites in Manchester while investigators assess the evidence.

For members of the Jewish community, the police statement that there is no ongoing public threat may provide reassurance, but the investigation and the timing around the High Holy Days are likely to keep security concerns high. Synagogues, schools, community centres and religious events may continue receiving advice or support from police and counter-terrorism officers.

For the wider Manchester public, authorities have indicated that normal vigilance is appropriate, while stressing that there is no identified continuing threat connected with the arrests. The immediate impact may include visible policing, local restrictions or further searches if investigators pursue additional leads.

The most significant next development is likely to be whether prosecutors authorise charges, police seek another legal extension, or the men are released while enquiries continue. Until one of those steps occurs, the allegations remain unproven and the investigation should be treated as ongoing.