by Martin Evans and Charles Hymas, Telegraph
Men accused of preparing acts against Manchester’s Jewish community on anniversary of synagogue attack
Two Iranian small boat migrantshave been charged with plotting a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Manchester.
Salam Ahmadyan, 36 and Rahman Salehi, 34, were arrested by counter-terrorism police in Manchester on Sept 20, the day before Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The men, who came to Britain illegally, have been charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, and will appear at Westminster magistrates’ court on Saturday.
It is alleged that the two men, one of whom was based in Salford, the other in Liverpool, were in contact with an overseas third party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot.
There were fears that any alleged plot may have been timed to coincide with the anniversary of last year’s terror attack at Heaton Park synagogue, in which two worshippers died.
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, said both men had come to Britain on small boats and Britain faced “serious threats from the Iranian regime”.