Two Iranian Men Charged With Alleged Terror Plot Targeting Manchester Jewish Community

Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, were arrested in Manchester on September 20 and charged on Friday with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts.

The two Iranian men appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning. Prosecutors allege the men were in contact with an overseas third party, assessed to be an Iranian national likely operating from Iran, regarding the plot. The men allegedly used the internet to identify and research potential targets, acquiring images, plans, and maps, and conducting reconnaissance.

Potential targets included Manchester's Jewish Museum and the Heaton Park Synagogue. Heaton Park Synagogue was the site of a terror attack on Yom Kippur last year, which led to the deaths of two worshippers, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53. Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said the investigation helped disrupt what is believed to have been a plot targeting the Jewish community.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for CTP, stated authorities do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public related to the attempted attack. Salehi, through a Kurdish interpreter, and Ahmadyan, through a Farsi interpreter, confirmed their names, dates of birth, and addresses in court. District Judge Nina Tempia remanded both men into custody for a hearing at the Old Bailey on October 23.

Salehi was granted asylum in the UK in 2023 and has leave to remain until July 2028, having previously claimed asylum in Germany and lived there for five years before arriving in Britain in 2020. Ahmadyan arrived in the UK in 2020, and his asylum claim is still outstanding. Both men reportedly arrived in the UK on small boats. Searches were carried out at addresses in Epworth Street, Liverpool, and Lancaster Road, Salford, as part of the investigation.