Iranian Men Accused of Plotting Bomb Attack on Manchester Jewish Sites: Two Iranian nationals have appeared in a UK court accused of carrying out reconnaissance on Jewish sites in Manchester as part of an alleged terrorist plot directed by an overseas actor believed to be operating from Iran.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, and Rahman Salehi, 34, were remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, where they faced a charge under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Prosecutors allege the pair were preparing for a terrorist attack against Jewish targets in Manchester and had been instructed by a foreign actor to gather information about potential locations.
The alleged targets included the Manchester Jewish Museum and the Heaton Park synagogue.
The case has attracted particular attention because the synagogue was the site of a deadly terrorist attack on October 2 last year, when two people, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed.
Alleged reconnaissance on Yom Kippur
According to the prosecution case, Ahmadyan and Salehi carried out what investigators describe as hostile reconnaissance of Jewish locations in Manchester on September 20.
The date was significant because it was the first day of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The men are accused of identifying potential targets and gathering information as part of preparations for an attack.
Prosecutors also allege that instructions were sent to the defendants explaining how to manufacture an improvised explosive device using chlorine and brake fluid.
The allegations have not been tested at trial.
Neither defendant was asked to enter a plea during Saturday’s hearing. Both confirmed their identities and addresses before being remanded in custody.
Ahmadyan appeared with the assistance of a Farsi interpreter, while Salehi used a Kurdish interpreter.
Their next hearing is scheduled to take place at the Old Bailey on October 23.
Alleged connection to Iran
The investigation has also raised questions about possible overseas involvement.
Prosecutors allege that the men were acting on instructions from a foreign actor believed to have been operating out of Iran.
The precise identity of the alleged foreign contact and the extent of that person’s involvement have not been established publicly through the court proceedings.
The alleged Iranian connection is likely to be examined closely as investigators continue to build their case.
British counter-terrorism authorities have been investigating the alleged plot with the involvement of security-service partners.
Police have also maintained security measures around Jewish communities following the arrests.
Both men arrived in Britain by small boats
The court heard that both defendants had entered the United Kingdom after crossing the English Channel in small boats.
The circumstances of their arrival have become an important part of public discussion surrounding the case, coming amid an ongoing political debate in Britain over irregular migration and asylum.
However, their immigration histories are separate from the terrorism allegations they now face.
The criminal proceedings concern the alleged preparation of terrorist acts and reconnaissance of potential targets. The fact that the defendants entered Britain by small boat does not itself form the basis of the terrorism charge.
Heaton Park attack adds significance
The alleged targeting of Heaton Park synagogue is particularly significant because the site was attacked less than a year ago.
The 2025 attack killed Cravitz and Daulby and left members of the Jewish community deeply concerned about security around places of worship.
The latest allegations emerged during another important period in the Jewish calendar, increasing the sensitivity surrounding the investigation.
Authorities have not suggested that the two cases are connected beyond the alleged targeting of the same Jewish location.
Investigation continues
Counter-terrorism investigators are continuing to examine the evidence surrounding the alleged plot, including communications and the defendants’ movements.
The authorities have not released all of the evidence they say supports the charges.
Both Ahmadyan and Salehi remain in custody as the legal proceedings continue.
The case is at an early stage, and the allegations against the two men have yet to be tested before a jury.
Under UK law, both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.
The next major development is expected when the pair appear at the Old Bailey on October 23, when the court is expected to consider the case in greater detail.
For now, the investigation provides another significant test for Britain’s counter-terrorism authorities and raises renewed questions about the security of Jewish communities and the potential role of overseas actors in alleged terrorist activity on British soil.
