Two Iranian nationals who entered the UK in small boats have been charged with preparing for a terrorist attack, following an alleged plan to target Manchester’s Jewish community shortly before Yom Kippur.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, and Rahman Salehi, 34, were detained in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on September 20. Counter Terrorism Policing confirmed that charges were brought against them earlier today.
Investigators said the suspects were allegedly communicating with a third party overseas in connection with the plan. Authorities have not confirmed the identity of that contact, although Iran is understood to be among the possibilities being examined.
The men are believed to have arrived in the UK by small boat in 2020 and 2023 respectively. One has reportedly been granted asylum, while the other has an active asylum application.
The charges were announced less than a week after five men were arrested over an alleged terrorist plot connected to RAF Fairford.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in that case. Tehran has rejected the allegation.
A dual British-Iranian citizen was arrested yesterday in connection with the alleged plot at the US-operated airbase in Gloucestershire.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the latest charges would be “deeply distressing” for Jewish communities. She added that the news would be particularly painful in Manchester, where people are approaching the first anniversary of the terrorist attack at Heaton Park synagogue.
Two people died in last year’s attack in the north of the city. The assault was carried out by an Islamic State supporter, who drove into the synagogue gates before fatally stabbing a worshipper.
Police stood guard at a Manchester address after the pair were arrested on September 20 over an alleged terror plot aimed at the city’s Jewish community as Yom Kippur began
Commenting on the current investigation, Ms Mahmood said the suspects’ arrival by small boat several years ago underscored the government’s focus on tackling illegal migration. She said crossings had fallen but insisted further action was needed.
She said it would not be appropriate to discuss the case in detail, but pledged continued efforts to protect Jewish communities, combat antisemitism and strengthen border security.
“It is no secret that this country faces a range of serious threats from the Iranian regime,” she said.
She accused the regime of targeting Jewish communities and attempting to intimidate critics abroad, often using proxies and criminal networks to conceal its alleged role.
Counter-terror officers said the two suspects had allegedly obtained written material about producing an improvised explosive device, along with video guidance on how such a weapon could be made or assembled.
The charges further allege that the men searched online for possible targets and carried out reconnaissance at locations linked to the suspected attack.
The alleged Manchester terror plot unfolded almost a year after the fatal attack at Heaton Park synagogue and just before Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.
As part of the investigation, police searched properties on Epworth Street in Liverpool and Lancaster Road in Salford.
Vicki Evans, deputy assistant commissioner and senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, described the charges as “extremely serious”. She said officers had disrupted what they believed was a plan targeting Manchester’s Jewish community.
Ms Evans said police did not believe there was a continuing danger to the public, while recognising the case had caused significant anxiety among Jewish residents and the wider community.
She added the suspected Yom Kippur plot was ‘not connected in any way’ to events at RAF Fairford.
‘I want to reassure the public that CTP, working with our national security partners, are using the full range of our capabilities to protect the UK from any hostile acts,’ Ms Evans said.
‘CTP is also working closely with police forces across the country to provide specialist protective security advice and support for areas with Jewish communities to help keep them safe.
‘Finally, I would like to thank the public – particularly those in affected areas in Manchester and Liverpool – for their support while this investigation has been ongoing.
‘As ever, I urge the public to remain vigilant and if they have any concerns then do not hesitate to act, and contact police.’
The alleged plot in Manchester would be the third time the area had been targeted by terrorists in two years.
Greater Manchester Police’s deputy chief constable Terry Woods 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.
‘We continue to work hand in glove locally with community leaders, the Community Security Trust and our local policing teams and nationally with Counter Terrorism Police London which have been leading this investigation.
‘Our ongoing and robust policing plans within the Jewish communities will endure, and the public can expect to see continued visibility with officers providing engagement and security.’
The pair’s arrests came on the eve of the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and at a time of heightened safety fears following last year’s deadly attack at Heaton Park synagogue
Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, said when the men were arrested it was an ‘incredibly concerning time’ for British Jews, a year after Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby died in the Heaton Park attack.
‘We once again repeat that security can only ever deal with the symptoms,’ Mr Levy said.
‘One year on from the murder of Melvin and Adrian, the Government must redouble its efforts to tackle the root causes of the hatred and extremism that are espoused in places of worship and other community spaces that continue to motivate people to target Jews.
‘We cannot simply keep protecting our community from the next attack but must do much more to stop people being motivated to carry one out in the first place.’
The pair’s arrests came almost 12 months after knife-wielding Islamic State supporter Jihad Al-Shamie tried to force his way into the Heaton Park Synagogue on October 2 last year during Yom Kippur.
Al-Shamie – who was wearing a fake suicide belt and rang 999 during his attack saying ‘I have killed two Jews in the name of Islamic State’ – had already stabbed Mr Cravitz, 66.
As a police marksman fired his Glock pistol at the terrorist, an inquest earlier this month heard how one round fatally struck Mr Daulby, 53, who was bravely helping to barricade the doors.
That round also hit 39-year-old Yoni Finlay, who survived.
The year before a terrorist attack on the same Jewish community planned by Walid Saadaoui, 38, the former owner of an Italian restaurant in Great Yarmouth, and Amar Hussein, 52, a former Iraqi soldier who worked in an appliance store in Bolton, was foiled after they unwittingly bought assault rifles, handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from an undercover officer.
Saadaoui was sentenced to life in jail with a minimum of 37 years and Hussein to life with a minimum of 26 years in February.
This is a breaking news story.
