They planned to blow up a synagogue and a Jewish museum: trial date set for two Iranians

A trial date has been set for two Iranian nationals accused of planning an attack against the Jewish community in Manchester. The trial of Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadian, 36, from Liverpool, will open on June 15, 2027, at Manchester Crown Court. The two appeared via video link from custody and intend to plead not guilty. They are charged with preparing acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the UK Terrorism Act. Prosecutors allege they scouted Jewish sites in Manchester in September, including the Manchester Jewish Museum and Heaton Park Synagogue, and used encrypted apps to obtain bomb-making components.

Three weeks after the initial report of their arrest on Walla, the two Iranian nationals accused of planning an attack against the Jewish community in Manchester were brought before the Old Bailey in London. At a hearing on Friday, it was determined that the trial of Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadian, 36, from Liverpool, will open on June 15, 2027, at Manchester Crown Court. The two appeared via video link from custody. Their lawyers stated that both intend to plead not guilty. Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb remanded them in custody and set the trial to last approximately five weeks. A further pre-trial hearing was scheduled for April 16. As reported by Walla earlier this month, the two are charged with preparation of terrorist acts or assisting another to commit such acts, under Section 5 of the UK Terrorism Act. According to the prosecution, they planned to use an improvised explosive device against the Jewish community in northern England. Prosecutor Lyndon Harris told the court that in September, the two were seen filming and photographing Jewish sites in Manchester, ahead of Yom Kippur. Among the targets they allegedly scouted were the Manchester Jewish Museum and Heaton Park Synagogue. The indictment states they used encrypted apps to obtain components for assembling a bomb. They are also charged with obtaining a document titled "Steps to Make a Bomb from Chlorine Powder and Brake Fluid," instructional videos for making explosives, liquids and equipment, as well as photographs, maps, and plans of potential targets. The two are suspected of acting under the direction of another individual, believed by authorities to be in Iran.