Manchester, terrorist attack foiled: two Iranian citizens arrested

British police have announced that two Iranian citizens aged 36 and 34 have been arrested on charges of planning a terrorist attack against the Jewish community of Manchester on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The police, who did not provide details on the modalities of the alleged plot, explained that the attack was foiled. The two men will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday 3 October.

“Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, and Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford - both Iranian citizens - were arrested in Manchester on Sunday 20 September", the officers said about the two Iranian citizens. “It is suspected that the two men were in contact with a third party abroad, possibly in Iran, in connection with the plot,” police added in a statement. The two Iranian citizens were arrested on Newton Street, in the Northern Quarter district of the city centre, and then held in a London police station.

Police later confirmed that the attack was foiled. “We do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter,” Assistant Deputy Commissioner Vicki Evans said. "We invite citizens to remain alert and to contact the police in case of doubts or concerns," he added.