Two Iranian men charged over suspected bomb plot targeting Manchester synagogue
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, have been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts after allegedly identifying Heaton Park Synagogue as a target. Both were arrested in Manchester on September 20 and will appear in court.
Two Iranian men have been charged with terrorism offences over an alleged plot to bomb a synagogue in north Manchester, in a case that has heightened concerns about the safety of Jewish communities in the UK.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, were both charged on Friday with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. They are accused of identifying Heaton Park Synagogue as a target for a bomb plot, a court has heard.
The pair were arrested in Manchester on September 20 and have been held in custody since. They are due to appear before magistrates, where the full charges will be put to them for the first time. The case is expected to be transferred to the Crown Court given the severity of the allegations.
Details of the alleged plot emerged during preliminary hearings, where prosecutors outlined that the men had carried out reconnaissance and identified the synagogue as a potential target. Heaton Park Synagogue, located in the Prestwich area, serves a substantial Jewish community in north Manchester.
The charges fall under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which criminalises acts preparatory to terrorism, including planning, reconnaissance, and possession of materials for terrorist purposes. Conviction can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Counter-terrorism police have not disclosed further operational details, but the investigation is understood to have involved close coordination between Greater Manchester Police and national security agencies. The arrests followed a period of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The case has drawn attention to the threat facing Jewish institutions across the UK. Community security groups have reported a rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years, and synagogues have increased protective measures. The alleged targeting of a place of worship in a residential area has alarmed local residents and community leaders.
Both defendants are expected to appear in court in the coming days. Legal proceedings are active, and no further details about the evidence have been released. Police have urged the public to remain calm and avoid speculation while the judicial process takes its course.
The charges come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and concerns about Iranian-linked activity on British soil. The UK government has previously warned about hostile state actors seeking to carry out attacks or destabilise communities. However, officials have not drawn a direct link between this case and any state sponsorship at this stage.
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement that the investigation remains ongoing and that extra patrols would be visible around Jewish sites in the area. Community leaders have been briefed, and security measures at synagogues and schools have been reviewed.
The two men are the only individuals charged in connection with the alleged plot so far. Investigators have not ruled out further arrests. The case is likely to be closely watched as it moves through the courts, with implications for counter-terrorism policy and community relations.
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