Two Iranian men who arrived in the UK on small boats identified Manchester’s Jewish Museum and Heaton Park Synagogue as targets for an alleged Yom Kippur bomb plot, a court has heard.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, were arrested in Manchester on September 20 and charged on Friday with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said.
The two men were allegedly in contact with an overseas third party – which may have been Iran – about the plot, a court was told.
They are accused of getting instructions to make a chlorine bomb and acquiring liquids, components and equipment required in order to manufacture or assemble an improvised explosive device.
They are also accused of using the internet to identify and research potential targets, acquiring images, plans and maps of potential targets and conducting reconnaissance of potential locations for attack.
These included the city’s Jewish Museum and the Heaton Park Synagogue, which was the subject of a terror attack on Yom Kippur last year that led to the deaths of two worshippers, the court heard.
As part of the investigation, searches at addresses in Epworth Street, Liverpool, and Lancaster Road, Salford, were carried out.
The two men appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning where Salehi, through a Kurdish interpreter, and Ahmadyan, through a Farsi interpreter, spoke to confirm their names, dates of birth, and addresses.
Police guarded an address in Manchester after the two men were arrested on September 20 on suspicion of a terror plot targeting the city’s Jewish community as Yom Kippur began
District Judge Nina Tempia remanded both men into custody to next appear at the Old Bailey for a hearing on October 23.
Prosecutor Mark Luckett told the court: ‘Both defendants are accused of preparing acts of terrorism targeting the Jewish community in Manchester through the use of a homemade explosive device.’
He added they allegedly carried out ‘what the prosecution say, is a hostile reconnaissance within Manchester’s Jewish community, identifying attempted targets such as the Jewish Museum and Heaton Park Synagogue.
‘They were arrested on September 20 2026, ahead of the festival of Yom Kippur, widely regarded as the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Mr Luckett said the pair are also accused of being ‘in contact with a third party who is alleged to have directed and coordinated the planned attack and provided instructions on how to assemble a home-made explosive device’.
He added the individual is alleged to be an Iranian national most likely operating from Iran.
Salehi arrived in the UK via small boat in 2020 having previously claimed asylum in Germany and spending five years there, the court heard.
Salehi was granted asylum in the UK in 2023 and currently has leave to remain until July 2028.
Ahmadyan arrived via small boat in 2023 and has an outstanding asylum claim, the court heard.
The charges came less than a week after an alleged plot at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which has led to six arrests so far. The police say the two incidents are not connected.
Earlier this week Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were ‘strong indications’ Iran was involved in the events, claims Tehran denied.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘These recent events are a stark reminder of the threats posed against this country.
‘Two suspects have been charged with planning a terrorist attack against Jewish communities in Manchester.
‘This news will be deeply distressing for our Jewish communities, coming so soon after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
‘I know this will be especially true in Manchester, as we mark one year since the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.
‘The fact both suspects arrived by small boat several years ago is a reminder of the importance of our relentless work to tackle illegal migration into this country. While numbers are down, I know there is more we must do.’
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, CTP senior national co-ordinator, said they do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to the arrests.
She said: ‘I’m aware that the news of this alleged plot coming during the High Holy Day period has caused a great deal of concern to the Jewish community, as well as with the wider public.
‘It also coincides with the anniversary of the devastating terrorist attack last year at Heaton Park Synagogue and comes in a wider context of increasing antisemitic incidents across the UK, so we are very aware that this will likely increase what were already heightened concerns amongst the Jewish community.
‘While this incident and the investigation into the RAF Fairford incident are not connected in any way, I want to reassure the public that CTP, working with our national security partners, are using the full range of our capabilities to protect the UK from any hostile acts.’
Greater Manchester Police’s deputy chief constable Terry Woods said: ‘We know how concerning this news will be to Jewish communities in Greater Manchester, and beyond.
‘We know this is particularly acute on the calendar anniversary of last year’s terrorist atrocity at the Heaton Park synagogue and during the Jewish High Holy Days.
‘We continue to work hand in glove locally with community leaders, the Community Security Trust and our local policing teams and nationally with Counter Terrorism Police London which have been leading this investigation.
‘Our ongoing and robust policing plans within the Jewish communities will endure, and the public can expect to see continued visibility with officers providing engagement and security.’
The pair’s arrests came almost 12 months after knife-wielding Islamic State supporter Jihad Al-Shamie tried to force his way into the Heaton Park Synagogue on October 2 last year during Yom Kippur.
Al-Shamie – who was wearing a fake suicide belt and rang 999 during his attack saying ‘I have killed two Jews in the name of Islamic State’ – had already stabbed Mr Cravitz, 66.
As a police marksman fired his Glock pistol at the terrorist, an inquest earlier this month heard how one round fatally struck Mr Daulby, 53, who was bravely helping to barricade the doors.
That round also hit 39-year-old Yoni Finlay, who survived.
