Two Iranian men charged in UK over alleged Yom Kippur bomb plot against Manchester Jewish community

Charges and arrest in Manchester

British counterterrorism police charged two Iranian nationals with planning a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Greater Manchester. Salam Ahmadyan, 36, residing in Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, aged 34 to 35, residing in Salford, were arrested by counterterrorism officers in Manchester's Northern Quarter on Sunday, 20 September 2026. On 2 October 2026, the Crown Prosecution Service authorized charges under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 for engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts. Prosecutors allege that the two suspects prepared to commit or assist another in committing an act of terrorism on or before Yom Kippur. Both defendants remained in police custody before their scheduled appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Saturday, 3 October 2026.

Alleged bomb plot and overseas contact

Investigators allege that Ahmadyan and Salehi actively gathered materials and sought operational guidance to construct an explosive device. According to counterterrorism police, the defendants obtained instructions to build a chlorine bomb and attempted to procure the necessary liquids, chemical components, and hardware. Police also stated that the suspects conducted online research and physical reconnaissance on potential Jewish targets in the Manchester area. Counter Terrorism Policing reported that both men were in contact with an unidentified third party located overseas, potentially in Iran. In the days following the initial arrests, specialist search teams examined residential addresses on Epworth Street in Liverpool and Lancaster Road in Salford.

They target our Jewish communities and try to silence their critics overseas, often through proxies and criminal networks to hide their involvement.

Migration background and official response

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that both defendants entered the United Kingdom separately after crossing the English Channel in small boats. Official records confirm that the two men arrived in 2020 and 2023. British authorities granted refugee status to one suspect, while the other maintains an active asylum claim under consideration by the Home Office. Mahmood noted that the case reflects security issues surrounding migration enforcement and stated that the government would continue operations against illegal Channel crossings. Iranian authorities have repeatedly denied allegations of organizing hostile operations or intelligence plots inside the United Kingdom.

These recent events are a stark reminder of the threats posed against this country from both terrorists and foreign state actors.

Community security and local context

The charges were announced during the Jewish High Holy Days, following Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and coincided with the first anniversary of the 2 October 2025 attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester, where two people died in a knife and firearm attack by a British citizen of Syrian descent. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, stated that security measures around Jewish institutions remain elevated across Britain. Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods confirmed that officers are maintaining visible patrols and community engagement at synagogues and communal centres. Evans also stated that the Manchester plot has no operational connection to a separate investigation near the RAF Fairford air base, where five men were questioned over explosives offences and suspected terrorism.