Two men arrested in Manchester during a London-led counter-terrorism investigation have been charged with preparing for acts of terrorism, after police said they disrupted an alleged plot aimed at the Jewish community in the Manchester area. Both men, who were in their 30s when detained, were arrested in Manchester city centre on Sunday 20 September 2026 and taken into custody in London. The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges on Friday 2 October. Police said some enquiries remain ongoing, but stressed they do not believe there is a remaining threat to the public linked to this case.
The arrests
Counter Terrorism Policing said the men were arrested on Newton Street in Manchester on Sunday 20 September under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, as part of an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London into a suspected plot to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area. Both were then taken to a police station in London, where they remained in custody.
On Tuesday 22 September, officers obtained warrants of further detention allowing them to be held until Sunday 27 September. A further warrant on Saturday 26 September allowed detention until Sunday 4 October. Searches at an address in Epworth Street in Liverpool and an address in Lancaster Road in Salford were carried out and police said they had been completed. The investigation was supported by Counter Terrorism Policing North West, Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police.
What police have said since
The Metropolitan Police official update of Monday 22 September confirmed the men remained in custody, the detention warrants had been granted and the Liverpool and Salford searches were complete. In the later official update on Friday 2 October, police named the defendants as Salam Ahmadyan, 36, of Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and said both are Iranian nationals. Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, both were charged on 2 October with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.
Police alleged the men had been in contact with an overseas third party who may be in Iran in connection with the alleged plot. That is an allegation to be tested in court, and both men are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless the case is proved. The 2 October release said both had been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 3 October. As of Friday 9 October, police had not published a further newsroom update setting out the outcome of that hearing in the official items reviewed here, so no hearing outcome is stated.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, reiterated that officers do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter, while asking people to remain vigilant. Sources: Metropolitan Police update, 22 September 2026; Metropolitan Police charging update, 2 October 2026. A search of the national Counter Terrorism Policing website did not return a separate item naming these defendants.
Why a Manchester case involved London officers
Counter-terrorism work in Britain is organised as a national network. Regional units work with local forces and the security services, and cases are led by the team holding the investigation even when arrests or searches are in another region. The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command leads this work in London and carries national responsibilities in the network. Police said this investigation was led from London, with regional and local officers supporting arrests, searches and community reassurance in the North West.
What happens next
Before charge, further detention in terrorism cases needs court authorisation through warrants, as happened here. After charge, custody is a matter for the court. Defendants are brought before magistrates, who decide whether they are remanded in custody or released on bail with conditions. Allegations of preparing for terrorist acts are then prepared for the Crown Court, where the prosecution must prove its case. No further hearing dates are given here because none were stated in the official police releases reviewed.
