Key Points
- Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, two Iranian nationals, were charged with preparation of terrorist acts, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
- Authorization for criminal charges, under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, was made by the Crown Prosecution Service on 2 October 2026.
- Counter Terrorism Policing states that the men have gathered instructions and recipes for bombs, fluids, parts and instruments, researched targets, gained images and maps, and carried out reconnaissance.
- The targets included the Heaton Park synagogue and the Manchester Jewish Museum.
- They were arrested in the Northern Quarter of Manchester on 20 September 2026, the day before Yom Kippur.
- Police claim that there was communication between the two men and some third person in another country, which could be Iran, but the Iranian state’s involvement has not been established by the authorities.
- They have both been remanded into custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on 23 October 2026.
- According to Counter Terrorism Policing, they do not think there is a current public threat associated with this case.
- The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, stated that this would be a “deeply distressing” incident for Manchester’s Jewish community.
Manchester Crime (Manchester Mirror) October 03, 2026 — Two Iranian nationals have appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with terrorism offences over an alleged plot to target Manchester’s Jewish community with a homemade bomb. Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, are accused of preparing to commit an act of terrorism, or assisting another person to do so, on or before 20 September 2026.
As reported by the BBC, the men stood in the dock wearing grey tracksuits and spoke through interpreters only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. They were remanded in custody until 23 October, when they are scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey in London.
The Metropolitan Police said both men were charged on Friday, 2 October, after the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
What Are the Allegations?
The Metropolitan Police said the prosecution alleges that Salehi and Ahmadyan used encrypted applications to communicate with others while seeking components for a homemade explosive device. The force also alleges that they obtained a document titled “Steps for Making [a] Powder Chlorine and Car Brake Oil/Fluid Bomb”, along with video material containing instructions for manufacturing or assembling an improvised explosive device.
According to the police statement, the men are further alleged to have acquired liquids, components and equipment needed to make such a device. Prosecutors also allege that they used the internet to identify and research potential targets, obtained images, plans and maps, and carried out reconnaissance of possible attack locations.
The BBC reported that the prosecution says the defendants carried out “hostile reconnaissance” at buildings in Manchester, including Heaton Park synagogue and the city’s Jewish Museum.
Were the Men Linked to Iran?
The Metropolitan Police said it is alleged that the two men were in contact with an overseas third party who may have been in Iran in relation to the alleged plot.
Reuters reported that police said the alleged contact involved a third party who “might be in Iran”, while the Home Office said one man had been granted asylum and the other had a live asylum claim.
The BBC reported that the court heard the defendants are alleged to have been directed by another Iranian individual believed to be in Iran. The police and prosecution statements reported publicly do not establish that the Iranian state directed the alleged plot.
What Did Police Say?
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described the charges as “extremely serious”. She said the joint investigation, conducted with security service partners, had disrupted what police believe was a plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community.
“We do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter,”
Evans said, while asking people to remain vigilant and report concerns to police.
She acknowledged that the allegations emerged during the Jewish High Holy Days and close to the first anniversary of the Heaton Park synagogue attack, adding that the case came amid rising antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom.
Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said the force would continue working with community leaders, the Community Security Trust and local policing teams.
“Our ongoing and robust policing plans within the Jewish communities will endure,”
he said.
What Did the Home Secretary Say?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the news would be “deeply distressing” for Manchester’s Jewish community as the city marked one year since the attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.
In a statement reported by Reuters, Mahmood said: “It is no secret that this country faces a range of serious threats from the Iranian regime.” She said Iran targeted Jewish communities and sought to silence critics overseas, often through proxies and criminal networks.
Mahmood also said the fact that both suspects had arrived in Britain by small boat several years ago highlighted the importance of tackling illegal migration. “We will be unrelenting in our efforts to protect our Jewish communities, root out antisemitism in this country, and maintain our border security,” she said.
Reuters noted that Iran has always denied accusations of involvement in such activity.
Where Were the Arrests and Searches?
The Metropolitan Police said Salehi and Ahmadyan were arrested in Newton Street, Manchester, on Sunday, 20 September, and subsequently taken to a London police station.
Officers obtained warrants of further detention on 22 September and again on 26 September, allowing the men to remain in custody until 4 October.
Searches were carried out at addresses in Epworth Street, Liverpool, and Lancaster Road, Salford. The Metropolitan Police said both searches had been completed.
Is This Connected to the RAF Fairford Case?
Counter Terrorism Policing said the Manchester investigation is not connected in any way to the separate suspected plot involving RAF Fairford, an airbase used by the United States.
Reuters reported that a dual UK-Iranian national was arrested on Thursday in connection with the Fairford investigation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” Iran was involved in that separate case, while Iran denied involvement and said speculation would “fuel Iranophobia propaganda”.
Background of the Development
The alleged plot is said to have been disrupted on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The case comes almost one year after an attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur services, in which two British Jews, Melvin Kravitz and Adrian Daulby, were killed. The BBC reported that one of the locations allegedly subject to reconnaissance in the current case was that same synagogue.
Reuters reported that Britain has seen a significant rise in antisemitism since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza, including a series of attacks on Jewish sites in London earlier in the year.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Manchester’s Jewish Community
The development is likely to increase concern among Manchester’s Jewish residents, particularly around synagogues, schools, community centres and cultural institutions. Police have already said they will maintain visible policing and protective security measures in Jewish communities, while working with the Community Security Trust and local leaders.
For community members, the immediate effect may include greater reliance on security arrangements during religious gatherings and public events, as well as closer communication with police and security organisations. The timing, near the anniversary of the Heaton Park synagogue attack and during the High Holy Days, may heighten anxiety despite police assurances that there is no ongoing public threat.
For wider Manchester residents, the case may lead to increased vigilance around suspicious activity and continued public reporting to Counter Terrorism Policing. The proceedings at the Old Bailey on 23 October are likely to determine further details of the allegations, while the defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
