LONDON (AP) — Two Iranian men, Salam Ahmadyan, 36, and Rahman Salehi, 34, have been charged in connection with a plot to bomb a Manchester synagogue, specifically the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue, which was previously the site of a deadly attack. The prosecutor revealed this information on Saturday, detailing the duo's surveillance activities and preparations for a terrorist act.
According to the court proceedings, Ahmadyan and Salehi had engaged in extensive research regarding potential attacks not only on the Heaton Park Synagogue in northwest England but also on the nearby Jewish Museum in Cheetham Hill. They were arrested last month, and the charges against them were formally laid on Friday, focusing on their actions in preparation for terrorist acts.
During their appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, neither defendant entered a plea. Judge Nina Tempia ordered that they be held until their next court appearance on October 23 at the Central Criminal Court in London. Prosecutor Mark Luckett disclosed that the two men were allegedly directed by a third individual believed to be located in Iran, who provided instructions on constructing a homemade chlorine bomb.
The prosecutor emphasized that Ahmadyan and Salehi had been observed conducting "hostile reconnaissance within Manchester's Jewish community." The Heaton Park synagogue had previously been the target of a significant attack on October 2, 2025. On that occasion, Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove his vehicle into the gates of the synagogue and subsequently launched a knife assault while wearing what appeared to be a suicide belt. Tragically, the attack resulted in the deaths of congregants Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, while three other individuals sustained serious injuries. Al-Shamie was subsequently killed by police during the incident.
Furthermore, the court was informed that both Ahmadyan and Salehi entered the United Kingdom without authorization within the last six years after crossing the English Channel by boat. Salehi had previously been granted asylum, while Ahmadyan is still awaiting a decision on his asylum claim.
Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator of counterterror policing, offered reassurance that the plot appears to be isolated and that there is currently no ongoing threat to the public. She clarified that it is unconnected to a suspected terror plot at the U.S.-run RAF Fairford airbase, which some officials have suggested could be linked to Tehran.
"I’m aware that the news of this alleged plot coming during the High Holy Day period has caused a great deal of concern," Evans stated. She noted the coinciding anniversary of last year’s devastating terrorist attack at the Heaton Park synagogue, emphasizing the broader context of increasing antisemitic incidents across the U.K. Evans acknowledged that this escalation would likely heighten existing concerns within the Jewish community.
