Two Iranian men charged over alleged plot targeting Manchester synagogue

Two men have been charged after a court heard they singled out a Manchester synagogue as a potential site for an alleged homemade explosive attack.

Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, appeared before a court on Friday accused of preparing terrorist offences linked to the city’s Jewish community, court reports said. Prosecutors told the hearing that the pair had identified the Heaton Park synagogue, which was earlier the scene of a lethal assault, as a location of interest.

Both men face charges related to conduct in preparation for a terrorist incident, according to the reports. The charges were brought this week following an investigation by police and counterterrorism authorities.

Context and previous attack

The synagogue named in the proceedings was previously the target of a fatal attack, the court was told. That detail was mentioned in reporting on the hearing and underlined the sensitivity of any alleged plans linked to the site.

Police have not provided further operational detail in the reports, and court documents set out the formal allegations rather than describing any device or steps said to have been taken. The Independent and the Guardian published accounts of the hearing that describe the charges and the location identified in the case.

Why this matters

Prosecutions of alleged plots that single out places of worship carry particular public interest because of the risk to communities and the potential for wider communal impact. The hearing signals that investigators considered the matter serious enough to bring formal charges promptly.

The accused are due to face further court proceedings where evidence will be examined and their responses formally entered. As with all criminal cases, the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and are presumed innocent unless convicted.

What reporters noted

Coverage from national outlets stated the names and ages of the two men, their home cities, and the charge category as set out in the court hearing. Details beyond those elements were not supplied in the articles summarising the proceedings, and police statements included in reporting did not expand on investigative details.

Next steps

The case will continue through the courts, where prosecutors will present evidence and the defence will respond. Journalists covering the matter say they relied on the court hearing to report the allegations and that further information may emerge in subsequent hearings or official statements.

No convictions have been recorded in relation to the allegations as of the reporting on Friday.