Two Iranians charged after alleged terror plot in Manchester
The men were arrested on 20 September; police say there is no indication of an ongoing threat in this case.
British prosecutors have charged two Iranian men with preparing a terrorist act or helping someone else to do so. According to police, the alleged conspiracy was directed against Manchester’s Jewish community.
The suspects, Rahman S. and Salam A., were arrested on 20 September in Newton Street, Manchester. They were due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Saturday. There has been no conviction: the case is still at the charging and preliminary-investigation stage.
Counter Terrorism Policing says the charges include using encrypted messaging services to obtain components for a homemade explosive. The men are also alleged to have collected instructions, acquired materials and researched possible targets online. Police stress that these are allegations which the court has yet to examine.
According to the charges, the suspects also collected images, plans and maps of possible targets and carried out reconnaissance. Police did not disclose which specific locations were allegedly examined. Nor has it been made public how far the alleged preparations had progressed.
The Metropolitan Police reported after the arrests that searches had been carried out in Liverpool and Salford. The force said at the time that the two men were being held under the UK Terrorism Act. Police also stated that they saw no ongoing threat to the public directly connected with the case.
The arrests took place on the eve of Yom Kippur, an important Jewish religious holiday, and about a year after the deadly attack at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester. The timing increased unease within the Jewish community. British counter-terrorism services therefore announced additional security support and advice for Jewish institutions.
Police say the men may have been in contact with a third person abroad, who may have been in Iran. This is not evidence that the Iranian government was involved in the alleged plans. The British authorities also stress that the case is not connected with a separate investigation into an incident at the US air force base RAF Fairford.
The Crown Prosecution Service says there is sufficient evidence to bring the case before a court, but points out that both suspects are entitled to a fair trial. The charges therefore mainly reflect what police and prosecutors allege; the precise role of the two men, the intended target and any foreign direction must still be established legally.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Two men have been charged in connection with an alleged plan targeting Manchester’s Jewish community.
- Police say the case poses no ongoing threat to the public.
- The possible role of a third person abroad and any connection with Iran have not been established.
- The suspects are entitled to a fair trial.
Left
Arguments The government must actively protect the Jewish community and combat antisemitism, but must not use the case to cast collective suspicion on Iranians, migrants or Muslims. Security measures must remain targeted and subject to scrutiny.
Values Equal treatment, protection of minorities, the rule of law and restraint in the use of mass surveillance.
Consequences A broad security or migration approach could damage the trust of vulnerable communities and make cooperation with police more difficult.
Centre
Arguments The institutions must have the charges independently tested, while police and security services retain sufficient resources to identify concrete threats at an early stage. Any possible foreign link should be investigated without assuming Iranian involvement as established fact.
Values Proportionality, evidence, public safety and a fair trial.
Consequences Targeted security and international cooperation can limit risks, provided powers are reviewed periodically and do not go further than necessary.
Right
Arguments This approach sees the case as showing that the state should take tougher action against terrorism, foreign interference and possible security breaches. The government must be able to intervene more quickly and act more firmly against people who pose a demonstrable risk.
Values Public order, national security, border control and the protection of citizens.
Consequences Stronger powers may disrupt threats earlier, but also increase the risk of disproportionate measures when suspicions later fail to stand.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core of the article is confirmed by British police, Reuters and The Guardian. Details about the alleged preparations are consistently attributed as allegations and are not presented as established facts.
- confirmed Rahman S. and Salam A. have been charged with preparing a terrorist act or helping someone else to do so. — The Guardian and Reuters report the same charges. source
- confirmed The two men were arrested in Manchester on 20 September. — The Metropolitan Police records the arrests on 20 September in Newton Street. source
- confirmed The alleged conspiracy was directed against Manchester’s Jewish community. — Counter Terrorism Policing and The Guardian describe this as a police claim. source
- confirmed The charges refer to encrypted communications, explosive material, instructions and research into possible targets. — The Guardian attributes these elements to the charges and police information. source
- confirmed Police said that no ongoing threat to the public was known in connection with the case. — This is stated in the Metropolitan Police’s report. source
- confirmed The men were due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. — The Guardian and Reuters report the hearing scheduled for 3 October. source
- confirmed The suspects were alleged to have been in contact with a third person who may have been in Iran. — Reuters and British reports present this as a police claim, without established involvement by the Iranian state. source
- confirmed The case is separate from the investigation into RAF Fairford. — Counter Terrorism Policing and The Guardian explicitly report that the two investigations are not connected. source
Editor's note
The charges, arrests, planned hearing and police statement that no ongoing threat is known are certain. The alleged targets, the role of a third person and any possible connection with Iran remain uncertain; there is no public evidence of involvement by the Iranian state.Sources
- Two Iranian men charged over alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community — The Guardian
- UPDATE: Counter Terrorism Policing arrests in Manchester — Metropolitan Police
- Dois iranianos são acusados no Reino Unido por suposto plano terrorista contra comunidade judaica — Reuters
- Update on RAF Fairford investigation – 17:30 01 October 2026 — Counter Terrorism Policing
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