Two Iranian men, Salam Ahmadyan and Rahman Salehi, were arrested in Manchester on September 20, 2026, and charged with preparing terrorist acts involving a homemade explosive device targeting the Jewish community. They were observed conducting reconnaissance at locations including the Heaton Park Synagogue and the Jewish Museum. The court heard that the pair received instructions from an alleged third-party coordinator believed to be in Iran on how to assemble the bomb.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, were arrested in Manchester on September 20 and charged on Friday with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said.
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Policing → arrest → acts
Both men appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning where Salehi, through a Kurdish interpreter, and Ahmadyan, through a Farsi interpreter, spoke to confirm their names, dates of birth, and addresses.
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Salehi → appear → birth
District Judge Nina Tempia remanded both men into custody to next appear at the Old Bailey for a hearing on October 23.
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Tempia → remand → October
Prosecutor Mark Luckett told the court: “Both defendants are accused of preparing acts of terrorism targeting the Jewish community in Manchester through the use of a homemade explosive device.
“
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defendants → tell → device
The defendants were observed carrying out, what the prosecution say, is a hostile reconnaissance within Manchester’s Jewish community, identifying attempted targets such as the Jewish Museum and Heaton Park Synagogue.”
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prosecution → observe → Museum
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove into the gates of Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Manchester on October 2 last year, and began attacking with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt.
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Shamie → kill → belt
Both Salehi and Ahmadyan were arrested on September 20 2026, ahead of the festival of Yom Kippur, widely regarded as the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Mr Luckett told the court.
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Luckett → arrest → court
“They were in contact with a third party who is alleged to have directed and coordinated the planned attack and provided instructions on how to assemble a home-made explosive device,” he said.
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he → allege → device
“It is assessed this individual is also an Iranian national and most likely operating from within Iran.
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individual → assess → Iran
Salehi arrived in the UK via small boat in 2020 having previously claimed asylum in Germany and spending five years there, the court heard.
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court → arrive → years
Salehi was granted asylum in the UK in 2023 and currently has leave to remain until July 2028.
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Salehi → grant → July
Ahmadyan arrived via small boat in 2023 and has an outstanding asylum claim, the court heard.
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court → arrive → claim
The men are accused of getting instructions to make a chlorine bomb and acquiring liquids, components and equipment required in order to manufacture or assemble an improvised explosive device.
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men → accuse → device
They are also accused of using the internet to identify and research potential targets, acquiring images, plans and maps of potential targets and conducting reconnaissance of potential locations for attack.
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They → accuse → attack
As part of the investigation, searches at addresses in Epworth Street, Liverpool, and Lancaster Road, Salford, were carried out.
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searches → carry → Street
“This news will be deeply distressing for our Jewish communities, coming so soon after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
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news → come → Hashanah
“I know this will be especially true in Manchester, as we mark one year since the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue.
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we → know → Synagogue
“The fact both suspects arrived by small boat several years ago is a reminder of the importance of our relentless work to tackle illegal migration into this country.
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suspects → arrive → country
While numbers are down, I know there is more we must do.”
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we → know → ?
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, CTP senior national co-ordinator, said they do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public.
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they → say → public
She said: “I’m aware that the news of this alleged plot coming during the High Holy Day period has caused a great deal of concern to the Jewish community, as well as with the wider public.
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news → say → public
“It also coincides with the anniversary of the devastating terrorist attack last year at Heaton Park synagogue and comes in a wider context of increasing antisemitic incidents across the UK, so we are very aware that this will likely increase what were already heightened concerns amongst the Jewish community.
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what → coincide → community
“While this incident and the investigation into the RAF Fairford incident are not connected in any way, I want to reassure the public that CTP, working with our national security partners, are using the full range of our capabilities to protect the UK from any hostile acts.”
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CTP → connect → acts
The Aporia
