British police announced on Friday, October 2, 2026, that two Iranian men have been charged with plotting a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Manchester. Authorities reported that the alleged plot was disrupted before it could be carried out, and they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.
The charges follow an October 2, 2025, attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in northern Manchester that resulted in two deaths. The current arrests also occur amid recent reports from British authorities regarding security incidents near RAF Fairford, a base used by U.S. bombers.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 35, of Salford, were arrested in Manchester on September 20. The Metropolitan Police allege the men were in contact with an overseas third party who may be located in Iran. According to police, the suspects are accused of communicating with others to acquire components for a homemade explosive device, obtaining bomb-making instructions, and conducting reconnaissance of potential targets.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that both suspects arrived in the United Kingdom by small boat several years ago. While Prime Minister Andy Burnham has separately stated there are "strong indications" that Iran played a role in a different suspected plot near RAF Fairford on September 27, authorities have not publicly established that the Iranian state directed the Manchester plot. Iran's government has denied involvement in the recent security incidents.
The announcement comes during the period of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The British government also noted the immigration status of the suspects, linking the case to efforts to address illegal migration involving individuals arriving via small boats.
The British government has previously designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a national security threat, a designation that carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison for providing assistance. MI5 has reported disrupting 20 Iran-linked plots in Britain over a 12-month period.
Ahmadyan and Salehi are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The investigation remains ongoing as counter-terrorism police continue to examine communications and digital evidence related to the case.