Two Iranian men have been charged with terrorism offences in the United Kingdom over an alleged plot targeting the Jewish community in Manchester shortly before Yom Kippur, with prosecutors telling a court that the pair had identified potential locations and allegedly taken steps toward preparing a homemade explosive device.
Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, were arrested in Manchester on 20 September and charged on 2 October with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. Both men appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 3 October and were remanded in custody. They are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 23 October.
Prosecutors allege the men carried out what was described in court as “hostile reconnaissance” within Manchester’s Jewish community. Potential targets allegedly included the Jewish Museum in Cheetham Hill and Heaton Park Synagogue, which was the scene of a deadly terrorist attack during Yom Kippur in October 2025. Two people were killed in that attack.
The prosecution also alleges that the pair communicated with a third party believed to be an Iranian national operating from Iran. According to the case presented in court, this individual allegedly helped direct and coordinate the planned attack and provided instructions connected to the construction of an improvised explosive device. Investigators also allege that the suspects used encrypted communications and obtained materials and equipment that could be used in preparing such a device.
The men are further accused of using the internet to research possible targets and obtaining images, plans and maps of locations before carrying out reconnaissance. Counter Terrorism Policing said searches were also conducted at addresses in Salford and Liverpool as part of the investigation.
The arrests came shortly before Yom Kippur, one of the most significant days in the Jewish calendar, increasing concern within Manchester’s Jewish community. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the charges would be “deeply distressing” for Jewish communities, particularly in Manchester, which was approaching the first anniversary of the 2025 Heaton Park Synagogue attack.
The case has also drawn attention to the circumstances under which the two men entered the United Kingdom. Counter-terrorism officials said both arrived in the country by small boat, with reports indicating that Salehi arrived in 2020 and was later granted asylum, while Ahmadyan arrived in 2023 and has an outstanding asylum claim. The Home Secretary linked the case to the government's wider efforts to address illegal migration, while stressing that more work remained to be done.
Counter Terrorism Policing said the alleged plot had been disrupted and that there was no ongoing threat to the public connected to the investigation. Authorities nevertheless urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report concerns to police. The allegations against the two men have not been proven in court, and both remain in custody as the investigation and legal proceedings continue.
