Chronological coverage updated 3rd October 2026 13:53.
Update 1 · 3rd October 2026
Two Iranian Men Remanded Over Alleged Bomb Plot Targeting Manchester Jewish Community
Two Iranian men appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning charged with preparing acts of terrorism targeting Manchester's Jewish community. Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, were arrested on September 20, 2026, shortly before the festival of Yom Kippur.
Wearing grey overalls, the defendants spoke through a Kurdish interpreter to confirm their names, dates of birth, and addresses. Prosecutors allege the pair carried out hostile reconnaissance across Jewish community sites in Manchester, specifically identifying targets including the Manchester Jewish Museum and the Heaton Park synagogue, a location previously subject to a fatal terrorist attack.
The Guardian reportedly quoted Mark Luckett (Prosecutor) as saying: “Both defendants are accused of preparing acts of terrorism targeting the Jewish community in Manchester through the use of a homemade explosive device.”.
Alleged reconnaissance and online instruction
According to prosecutor statements, Salehi and Ahmadyan were in contact with an unidentified third party assessed to be an Iranian national operating from within Iran. This individual allegedly directed and coordinated the planned attack, providing instructions on how to assemble an improvised explosive device.
Evidence detailed in court indicated the suspects acquired a instructional document entitled Steps for Making [a] Powder Chlorine and Car Brake Oil/Fluid Bomb, alongside video material explaining bomb assembly. Prosecutors stated the men had gathered necessary chemical components, liquids, and equipment while researching target locations online to acquire floor plans, satellite maps, and aerial photographs.
Background and court remand
The court heard that both defendants entered the United Kingdom illegally via small boats. Salehi arrived in 2020 after spending five years in Germany and was granted leave to remain in 2023. Ahmadyan arrived in 2023 and has an outstanding asylum claim. District Judge Nina Tempia remanded both defendants into custody to appear at the Old Bailey on October 23.
- Two men face terrorism charges over an alleged plot against Jewish institutions in Manchester guided by a third party in Iran.
- The defendants allegedly acquired chemical bomb instructions and carried out physical and digital reconnaissance.
- Both suspects were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on October 23.
