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Two Iranian men appear in court over alleged Manchester bomb plot

Prosecutors allege the suspects conducted surveillance on Jewish sites under direction from Iran.

The short version

  • British authorities charged Iranian nationals Salam Ahmadyan and Rahman Salehi with planning a terror attack against Manchester's Jewish community.[CBS News · BBC News]
  • Prosecutors allege the pair conducted surveillance on the Heaton Park synagogue and the Jewish Museum using instructions provided by a contact in Iran.[BBC News · Associated Press]
  • A London judge remanded both defendants in custody until an October 23 court appearance, while counterterrorism officials said the public faces no ongoing threat.[The Guardian · CBS News · BBC News · Associated Press]

Key facts

  • Salam Ahmadyan and Rahman Salehi were arrested on September 20 and charged with preparing acts of terrorism targeting Manchester's Jewish community.[CBS News · BBC News]
  • Prosecutors told the court that the defendants were directed by a third party believed to be in Iran who provided instructions to construct a homemade chlorine bomb.[Associated Press]
  • The suspects reportedly carried out surveillance on the Heaton Park synagogue and the Jewish Museum in Manchester.[Associated Press]
  • District Judge Nina Tempia ordered the defendants held in custody until an appearance at the Old Bailey scheduled for October 23.[The Guardian · BBC News · Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • The identity and precise whereabouts of the overseas third party suspected of coordinating the plot from Iran remain unconfirmed.[CBS News · Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.