Men in court over alleged plot to target Manchester Jewish community

Two Iranian men have appeared in court charged with terror offences over an alleged plot to target the Jewish community in Manchester with a homemade bomb. Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and 36-year-old Salam Ahmadyan, from Liverpool, were accused at Westminster Magistrates' Court of preparing to commit an act of terrorism or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism on or before 20 September.One of the buildings they are alleged to have carried out reconnaissance at is the Heaton Park synagogue that was attacked last year.Both men, who had arrived in the UK by small boat, were arrested in Manchester's Northern Quarter on the eve of Yom Kippur - the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.Salehi and Ahmadyan were remanded in custody until 23 October when they will appear at the Old Bailey in London.As part of the investigation, searches were carried out at addresses in Epworth Street, Liverpool, and Lancaster Road, Salford.The Metropolitan Police said the men were alleged to have obtained instructions to make a chlorine bomb, acquired liquids and other components to make an improvised explosive device and researched and carried out reconnaissance on potential targets.The prosecution say they carried out "hostile reconnaissance" on buildings in Manchester including the Heaton Park synagogue - where two British Jews, Melvin Kravitz and Adrian Daulby, were killed when it was attacked during last year's Yom Kippur service - and also at the city's Jewish Museum.The court heard the defendants are alleged to have been directed by another Iranian individual who is believed to be in Iran.