Two men arrested by counter-terror police in Manchester are suspected to have been plotting to target the city’s Jewish community, police have revealed.
Specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police seized the men at an address in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on Sunday before raiding a nearby hostel.
It came on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, and nearly one year since the deadly terror attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue in which Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed.
Today, the Met confirmed the investigation relates to a suspected terrorist plot to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area and said they did not believe there was any ‘ongoing threat to the public’.
The men, who are in their 30s, were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act and remain in custody.
Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, said: ‘Yesterday marked one year since Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were murdered in a terrorist attack targeting our community on Yom Kippur.
‘The fact that, on that anniversary, a terrorist plot has been foiled which could once again have targeted Jews in Manchester makes this an incredibly concerning time for Jewish people in the UK.
‘We are immensely grateful to Greater Manchester Police, the Metropolitan Police and the security services for their work in preventing another potential tragedy and for the extensive protection they continue to provide.
Police guarding an address in Manchester after two men were arrested on suspicion of a terror plot targeting the city’s Jewish community
Sunday’s raids came on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and a time of heightened safety fears following last year’s deadly attack at Heaton Park Synagogue
‘We once again repeat that security can only ever deal with the symptoms.
‘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 Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, said: ‘This is utterly chilling, coming so close to the anniversary of the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue last year, and is another reminder of the serious terrorist threat facing Jewish communities in this current time.
‘We want to thank the police and other agencies for their work protecting the Jewish community, and British society as a whole, from terrorism.
‘We urge the Jewish community to remain calm and alert, and to report any suspicious activity to police on 999 and then to CST.’
The arrests come almost 12 months after knife-wielding Islamic State supporter Jihad Al-Shamie attempted to force his way into the Heaton Park synagogue on last year’s Yom Kippur, October 2.
Al-Shamie – who was wearing a fake suicide belt, and rang 999 during his atrocity saying ‘I have killed two Jews in the name of Islamic State’ – had already stabbed Mr Cravitz, 66.
Police cordoned off part of Newton Street near the centre of Manchester on Sunday as they arrested two suspects
As a police marksman fired his Glock pistol at the terrorist, an inquest earlier this month heard how one round tragically struck both Mr Daulby, 53, who was bravely helping to barricade the doors, causing fatal injuries, and also 39-year-old Yoni Finlay, who survived.
Today Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for counter terrorism policing, said: ‘This has been a long-running proactive investigation which has led to the disruption of what we believe to be a plot to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area.
‘Counter terrorism policing continue to focus our efforts on identifying and disrupting those who wish to cause harm in our communities.’
‘We are acutely aware this news will cause further concern to the Jewish community, as well as the wider public, especially given the significant High Holy day period.
‘I want to reassure them we are working incredibly closely with colleagues in Greater Manchester Police and partners to ensure we’re doing everything we can to keep them and the wider public safe.
‘And more broadly, across the country CTP is working with local police forces to provide protective security support and advice for areas with Jewish communities, and particularly during the High Holy Day period.
‘As we have shown with these arrests, where we suspect there could be a threat to the public, then we will not hesitate to investigate and take action.
‘We are pursuing a number of lines enquiry and we anticipate these will continue over the coming days as this investigation continues.
‘Importantly, we do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter, but as ever, we would ask that people remain vigilant and contact police with any concerns.’
Earlier today police in Manchester pledged a ‘robust’ operation to protect the city’s Jewish population throughout this week’s High Holy Days period.
Chief Superintendent Dave Meeney, of Greater Manchester Police, said: ‘We’re well aware that events over recent days will have only added to already heightened concerns in our Jewish communities, especially at such an important time of year.
‘We recognise and understand this concern, and I want to make it absolutely clear that our work to provide as much visibility and security as we can through additional activity, which remains very much ongoing.
‘Our priority is always the safety of the public and, while we don’t currently believe there is any ongoing risk to our communities linked to Counter Terrorism Policing’s activity in Greater Manchester this week, we’ll continue to listen and respond to your concerns in the most proportionate and effective way.’
