Iranian suspects 'planned to use home-made bomb' to attack Jews in Britain

Two Iranian nationals, Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, have appeared in an English court, accused of plotting a terrorist attack against Jewish individuals in Manchester. The alleged plan involved the use of a homemade bomb, according to prosecutors. The suspects were allegedly under the direction of another Iranian individual believed to be operating within Iran.

Prosecutors allege the pair conducted surveillance on potential targets in Manchester, including the Manchester Jewish Museum and Heaton Park synagogue, a site of a deadly attack a year ago that claimed the lives of two Jewish worshippers. The pair were apprehended at the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

They were remanded in custody and are scheduled to return to court on October 23, with no plea entered at this time. A third individual is suspected of directing the attack planning and providing instructions on constructing the homemade explosive device, which prosecutors allege would have been made from chlorine and brake fluid.

Both suspects entered Britain from Europe in small boats. Salehi arrived in 2020 and received asylum, while Ahmadyan entered in 2023 with his asylum claim still pending. This case follows recent allegations involving Iran's suspected involvement in a plot to attack the RAF Fairford airbase, though it remains separate from that investigation.

Iran has consistently denied involvement in recent plots in Britain, with the Fairford incident's allegations being termed baseless.