British counter-terror police have charged two Iranian nationals with planning an attack on the Jewish community of Manchester on Erev Yom Kippur. The charges were filed on the first anniversary of the deadly shooting at Heaton Park shul.
The suspects are named as Salam Ahmadian, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salahi of Salford, whose age is given as 34 or 35. Both were arrested in Manchester on Sunday, 20 September, and charged with "engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism". According to Reuters, they are due to appear Saturday at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.
Police say the two were in contact with "an overseas third-party actor, potentially located in Iran". Investigators found bomb-making components in their possession and evidence that they had conducted surveillance on potential targets. Iran International reported that the arrests took place in Manchester's Northern Quarter, and that authorities have not stated the Iranian government was behind the plot. The Daily Telegraph reported that both men entered Britain illegally by small boat.
"These are extremely serious charges and allegations," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicky Evans, the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing. She said the investigation had disrupted "what we believe was a plot directed at the Jewish community in Manchester". She added that police believe there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods of Greater Manchester Police said the news is especially troubling "on the anniversary of the terror atrocity at Heaton Park shul, and during the Yamim Noraim". He said increased police presence in Jewish communities will remain in place.
A week of security alerts
The charges came at the end of a tense week in Britain. On Sunday, five British men were arrested in London on suspicion of terror offences involving explosives, after three suspicious vehicles were spotted near RAF Fairford, a base used by the US Air Force for strikes on Iran. All five were released on bail. On Thursday, a 25-year-old man with British and Iranian citizenship was arrested in Westminster in connection with the incident.
On Wednesday, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said there are "strong indications" that Tehran was involved in the Fairford incident. Iran has denied the claim.
Police stress that the two cases are not connected. "This week has brought into focus some of the wider threats to the UK from Iran," Evans said. "While this incident and the Fairford investigation are not linked in any way, I want to reassure the public that counter-terror police, together with our national security partners, are using the full range of our capabilities to protect the UK from any hostile activity."
The current year in Britain has been marked by a wave of antisemitic attacks, including against shuls and other communal buildings. The government has deployed additional officers to protect Jewish residential areas.
