Two Iranian men have been charged in connection with an alleged plot to target a Manchester synagogue with a homemade bomb, a court heard. Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, were charged on Friday with preparing to commit an act of terrorism or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism.
The men appeared at Westminster magistrates court on Saturday morning. They are accused of carrying out "hostile reconnaissance" within Manchester's Jewish community, identifying potential targets including the Jewish Museum and Heaton Park synagogue.
The court heard that the pair were allegedly in contact with a third party, believed to be operating from Iran, who "directed and coordinated" the planned attack and sent instructions on how to prepare an explosive device. The men are also accused of acquiring materials and video instructions for manufacturing an improvised explosive device.
Salehi and Ahmadyan were arrested on 20 September 2026, shortly before the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur. District Judge Nina Tempia remanded the two men into custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 23 October.