Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, face terror charges after detectives intercepted a scheme to strike Manchester’s Jewish community. Police allege the men carried out reconnaissance and attempted to procure components for an improvised explosive device. The arrest happened on September 20, precisely the day the plot was allegedly intended to unfold.
The timing is grim. Investigators believe the attack was scheduled for or before Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. This date carries a heavy shadow for local residents. On October 2, 2025, two people were killed at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue during the same holiday. The proximity of this new threat to that tragedy has put the city on high alert.
Detectives say the duo was in contact with an overseas third party, potentially based in Iran. That international link suggests a coordinated effort beyond local extremists. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to map the full scope of the network.
The Jewish community in Manchester is reeling from the renewed threat. After losing lives to a targeted attack less than a year ago, the mere suspicion of another IED plot strikes a raw nerve. Synagogue security protocols are expected to tighten immediately as the legal process begins.