U.K. police arrest two suspects over terror plot targeting Jewish community on Yom Kippur

British counter-terrorism police have announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with a suspected terrorist plot targeting the Jewish community in northern England, according to a statement released on Tuesday. The two men, aged in their 30s, were apprehended in central Manchester on Sunday, as part of a broader counterterrorism probe. Additional searches were conducted in Salford and Liverpool.

Senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, Vicki Evans, stated that this investigation has resulted in the disruption of a plot targeting the Jewish community in the Manchester area. However, Evans affirmed that detectives do not currently believe there is an ongoing threat. Nonetheless, Manchester police have reportedly intensified their policing efforts during the upcoming Jewish High Holy Days.

The two suspects are currently in custody in London while further investigations are ongoing. In April 2023, two Jewish worshippers were killed in a synagogue attack during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, carried out by a British citizen of Syrian descent who claimed to be acting for Islamic State. Evans acknowledged that this news may cause additional concern to the Jewish community and the wider public, particularly given the significant High Holy Day period.

Evans emphasized that her primary goal is to reassure the Jewish community and the public that authorities are working closely with Greater Manchester Police and partners to ensure their safety. The report noted that Britain has experienced a significant increase in antisemitism since Hamas's October 7 massacre, which included arson attacks on Jewish community targets in London earlier this year and two suspected terrorist incidents involving Jewish men in April.

In response, the national terrorism threat level was raised to "severe," with then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing concern over the living conditions of Britain's 290,000 Jews.