British police have charged Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, with preparing terrorist acts after alleging they planned an attack on Manchester's Jewish community on the eve of Yom Kippur. Authorities say the suspects had components for an IED, conducted target reconnaissance and were allegedly in contact with an overseas third party who may be in Iran. Separately, five London men were detained near RAF Fairford in a major security operation; they were later released on bail and a dual U.K.-Iranian national was subsequently arrested. Officials say the two investigations are not linked.
Two Iranian Nationals Charged Over Alleged Yom Kippur Attack Plot Targeting Manchester Jewish Community
The men, arrested in Manchester earlier this month, were charged with "engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts". (Anthony Devlin / Getty)
British police announced Friday that two Iranian nationals have been charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack the Jewish community in Manchester on the eve of Yom Kippur, one of the most solemn days in the Jewish calendar.
The Metropolitan Police identified the suspects as Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36. According to a police statement, both were charged with "engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts" on or before September 20.
Police say the pair possessed components that could be used to manufacture an improvised explosive device (IED) and carried out reconnaissance of potential targets in Manchester. Investigators also allege the men had been in contact with an overseas third party who may be located in Iran and connected to the alleged plot.
Separate RAF Fairford Operation
In a separate counterterrorism operation, officials detained five British nationals as part of a major security response near RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force station roughly 90 minutes west of London that is used by the U.S. Air Force for operations in the region. The five men, all from London and described as being in their early to mid-20s, were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism- and explosives-related offences after three vehicles were seen moving toward the base. They were later released on bail. Police then arrested a dual U.K.-Iranian national on Thursday in connection with that incident.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said there were "strong indications" that Tehran played a role in the security incident outside the air base; Iran has denied any involvement.
"This week also brought into sharp focus some of the wider threats being projected into the UK from Iran," said Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP). "While this incident and the investigation into the RAF Fairford incident are not connected in any way, I want to reassure the public that CTP, working with our national security partners, are using the full range of our capabilities to protect the UK from any hostile acts."
Authorities emphasized that the Manchester arrests and the RAF Fairford operation are not linked. Counterterrorism teams continue to investigate both matters, working with national security partners to assess any wider threats and to protect communities.
Originally published on NBCNews.com.
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