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Rahman Salehi and Salam Ahmadyan are accused of preparing a homemade bomb attack on Manchester's Jewish community at the direction of a figure believed to be based in Iran. Both men were remanded in custody and will next appear at the Old Bailey on October 23.
Two Iranian nationals have appeared in a London court charged with plotting acts of terrorism involving the use of a homemade bomb to attack the Jewish community in northern England at the behest of a figure believed to be based in Iran.
Manchester Terror Charges Detailed
Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, were arrested on September 20 at the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when they are accused of carrying out hostile surveillance on potential Jewish targets in Manchester, prosecutors say. The men appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday, wearing grey overalls in the dock. They spoke through a Kurdish interpreter to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses.
They did not enter a plea and were remanded in custody. District judge Nina Tempia sent the case to the Old Bailey, where the pair will next appear on October 23. Prosecutor Mark Luckett told the court the men carried out hostile reconnaissance within Manchester's Jewish community. They identified potential targets including the city's Jewish museum and Heaton Park synagogue, he said.
Heaton Park synagogue was the scene of a deadly attack almost a year ago in which two Jewish worshippers were killed. Both defendants are accused of preparing acts of terrorism targeting the Jewish community in Manchester through the use of a homemade explosive device, Luckett said. The defendants were observed carrying out what the prosecution say is hostile reconnaissance within Manchester's Jewish community, identifying attempted targets such as the Jewish Museum and Heaton Park synagogue, he added.
Bomb Allegations and Iranian Direction
Luckett said the men were in contact with a third party who is alleged to have directed and coordinated the planned attack. This person is also alleged to have provided instructions on how to assemble a homemade bomb. It is assessed this individual is also an Iranian national and most likely operating from within Iran, he said. The court heard both men travelled to Britain from Europe in small boats.
Salehi arrived in 2020 and was granted asylum, while Ahmadyan came in 2023 and has an outstanding asylum claim. Before coming to the UK, Salehi lived in Germany for five years. The men are accused of acquiring a document entitled Steps for Making Powder Chlorine and Car Brake Oil Fluid Bomb, along with video material on how to manufacture or assemble an improvised explosive device.
They are also accused of acquiring liquids, components and equipment needed to manufacture or assemble such a device. Prosecutors further allege the pair used the internet to identify and research potential targets. They also allegedly acquired images, plans and maps of potential targets and conducted reconnaissance of potential locations for attack.
Fairford Plot and Iran Response
The Manchester allegations are separate from a suspected plot to target the RAF Fairford air base in Gloucestershire, which the US military has used to carry out raids against targets in Iran. A dual British-Iranian national was arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts in connection with that investigation. Police said on Saturday that he had been released on police bail while the investigation continued. British counterterrorism police have said the Manchester allegations were not connected to the Fairford investigation.
Iran has rejected accusations of involvement in a number of plots in Britain in recent years. It has said allegations it was connected to the Fairford incident were baseless. Britain has also seen a significant rise in antisemitism since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 that triggered the war in Gaza. This has included a series of attacks on Jewish sites in London earlier this year.
It is no secret that this country faces a range of serious threats from the Iranian regime, British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement. They target our Jewish communities and try to silence their critics overseas, often through proxies and criminal networks to hide their involvement.
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theage:Two Iranians appear in UK court over alleged plot to target JewsThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Iranian Nationals Charged Heaton Park Synagogue UK Counterterrorism Westminster Magistrates Court Manchester Bomb Plot Jewish Community Targets RAF Fairford Investigation UK Counterterrorism Investigation
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