Two Iranian men have been charged in relation to an alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community. Police say another man, most likely in Iran, was in contact with them as part of a plot to get a bomb to attack Jewish targets. They were arrested two Sundays ago in broad daylight in a Manchester street during the Jewish holiday period. Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool have been charged with preparing to commit an act of terrorism or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism.
Police said the two men face charges that they gained materials and instructions to make a homemade bomb, identified possible targets and carried out reconnaissance ahead of an attack. Police said: “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 development, terrorism charges and detail given so far by British authorities marks an extraordinary chapter in British and Iranian relations. The prime minister, Andy Burnham, said Iran had a link to a weekend scare at RAF Fairford when five men were arrested close to the military base, along with three vans, one of which contained petrol in a barrel.
Those men have now been bailed, having been arrested in the early hours of Sunday in the Gloucestershire countryside on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act. Vicki Evans, deputy assistant commissioner and the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism, said: “This week also brought into sharp focus some of the wider threats being projected into the UK from Iran. A government statement, minutes after the police announced the charges, revealed one of those accused over the Manchester plot had been granted asylum status in the UK and the other had an asylum application pending.
The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said that both of the accused had come to Britain via small boats, one in 2020 and another in 2023, when the Conservatives were in power. Mahmood said Iran had shown hostile intent to the UK in a series of incidents. They target our Jewish communities and try to silence their critics overseas, often through proxies and criminal networks to hide their involvement.
We are responding to these threats with new powers and record funding to disrupt hostile activity. This week marked the anniversary of an attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester, where two worshippers died, as well as the attacker who said he supported Islamic State and was shot dead by police. Jews in Britain have faced a dramatic increase in attacks since the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, which has ties to Iran.
It led to an internationally condemned military response by Israel in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people. The Community Safety Trust, which offers security and advice to British Jews, said: “The charging of two men in connection with an alleged plot targeting the Manchester Jewish community will be deeply concerning to Jews across the UK. Furthermore, the charges allege they obtained a document called “Steps for Making [a] Powder Chlorine and Car Brake Oil/Fluid Bomb”, obtained video instructions on how to make an improvised explosive device (IED), and got the “liquids, components and equipment” to make an IED.
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