2 Iranians accused of chlorine bomb plot against same Manchester synagogue attacked last year

Two Iranian men conducted surveillance of a Manchester synagogue that was the site of a deadly attack on Yom Kippur a year ago as part of a plot to bomb it this year, officials said over the weekend.

Prosecutor Mark Luckett said the duo was directed by a third person believed to be in Iran who coordinated plans and provided instructions on making a homemade chlorine bomb. They acquired materials for constructing such a bomb and scouted potential targets.

Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, were arrested on September 20 at the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, when they are accused of carrying out “hostile” surveillance on potential Jewish targets in Manchester, prosecutors said.

The two researched attacking the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue and the Jewish Museum in nearby Cheetham Hill, the court was told.

Heaton Park was attacked on Yom Kippur last year. Two people were killed on October 2, 2025, when a British-Syrian citizen rammed his car into the gates of the synagogue during prayer services. The attacker stabbed one congregant to death, then tried to storm the synagogue before police shot him dead. A second congregant was accidentally shot dead by police.

Ahmadyan and Salehi were charged Friday with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts.

It was not immediately clear from prosecutors’ statements whether they were plotting to attack their targets during Yom Kippur itself.

Neither entered a plea during an appearance in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where Judge Nina Tempia ordered them held until an Oct. 23 appearance at the Central Criminal Court in London.

“We do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said in a statement.

UK Home Minister Shabana Mahmood said the pair arrived in Britain on a small boat from Europe several years ago. One of the men had been granted asylum, and the other had a live asylum claim, the interior ministry said.

“It is no secret that this country faces a range of serious threats from the Iranian regime,” Mahmood said. “They target our Jewish communities and try to silence their critics overseas, often through proxies and criminal networks to hide their involvement.”

“These recent events are a stark reminder of the threats posed against this country from both terrorists and foreign state actors,” she added.

Detectives said there was no connection between Friday’s charges and the suspected plot involving the RAF Fairford air base, over which a dual UK-Iranian national was arrested on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there were “strong indications” Iran was involved in relation to RAF Fairford, though Iran denied any involvement.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.