Two Iranians charged over alleged homemade-bomb plot against Manchester Jewish targets

Two Iranian nationals have appeared in a London court charged with plotting acts of terrorism involving a homemade bomb to attack the Jewish community in northern England, allegedly at the behest of a figure believed to be based in Iran (Reuters, Al Jazeera).

Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, were arrested on September 20 — the start of Yom Kippur — accused of carrying out “hostile” surveillance on potential Jewish targets in Manchester. Prosecutor Mark Luckett told Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday the targets included the Manchester Jewish Museum and Heaton Park synagogue, the scene of a deadly attack almost a year ago in which two Jewish worshippers were killed.

Both men are accused of preparing acts of terrorism “through the use of a homemade explosive device”, which prosecutors allege would have been made from chlorine and brake fluid. Luckett said a third party allegedly directed and coordinated the attack planning and supplied assembly instructions, and is assessed to be an Iranian national “most likely operating from within Iran”.

The court heard both men reached Britain from Europe in small boats: Salehi arrived in 2020 and was granted asylum, while Ahmadyan came in 2023 and his asylum claim is still outstanding. Neither entered a plea and both were remanded in custody until an Old Bailey hearing on October 23.

Counterterrorism police said the Manchester allegations were not connected to last week’s suspected Iran-linked plot against RAF Fairford. Iran has rejected accusations of involvement. “It is no secret that this country faces a range of serious threats from the Iranian regime,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement.