UK remands 2 Iranians over alleged antisemitic terror plot

Two Iranian nationals were remanded in custody by a London court following charges of plotting a terrorist attack against the United Kingdom’s Jewish community.

The defendants were taken into custody on September 20, the eve of Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.

This case surfaced on Friday, shortly after another terror plot linked to Iran was successfully thwarted.

What do we know about the case?

Prosecutor Mark Luckett informed Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Rahman S., 34, and Salam A., 36, face charges of conductive hostile reconnaissance against Jewish targets in Manchester, Northern England.

The prosecution alleges the suspects intended to construct a homemade explosive device and maintained contact with a third party, likely operating from within Iran.

According to the evidence, the contact reportedly provided the duo with instructions for assembling a homemade explosive from chlorine and brake fluid. Furthermore, the prosecutors indicated that the suspects employed online resources, including imagery and planning tools, to identify and evaluate potential attack sites.

The targeted venues included the Manchester Jewish Museum and the Heaton Park synagogue, where two Jewish worshippers were tragically killed in a knife attack a year prior.

The pair migrated to Britain via small boats crossing the English Channel from mainland Europe; one individual secured asylum while the application for the other remained pending. Neither suspect entered a plea, and both were remanded in custody pending their next appearance at London’s Old Bailey on October 23.

Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator of counter‑terror policing, described the plot as isolated, with no current public threat posed by the group.

UK releases air base plot suspects

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Police unraveled the RAF Fairford plot after a farmer reported suspicious white vehicles near the airbase early Sunday morning. Authorities discovered petrol inside the vans but found no explosives. While UK media previously reported that one suspect had attempted to contact police hours earlier, such claims were not confirmed. Tehran has dismissed baseless accusations regarding an attack on RAF Fairford—a strategic location historically used by U.S. bombers to strike Iran. The UK remains on high alert for potential threats from Russia and Iran. Past activities by Iran have involved leveraging proxies for crimes on British soil, including repeated attacks and plots targeting Jewish communities and dissidents. Antisemitic violence has risen sharply since the events surrounding Hamas’ October 2023 attacks on Israel.

Police uncovered the RAF Fairford plot when a farmer spotted suspicious white vans near the airbase early Sunday morning and called the authorities. Officers found petrol inside the vans, but no explosives.

Although UK media reported this week that one of the suspects dialled the police about an hour earlier, that information has not been confirmed.

Tehran has rejected as baseless accusations of targeting RAF Fairford, which lies 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of London and has been used by US bombers to strike Iran.

The UK remains on high alert for potential threats from Russia and Iran.

Iran has previously used proxies to commit crimes on British soil, including repeated attacks and plots against Jewish targets, as well as against dissidents.

Antisemitic attacks more broadly have risen sharply since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.

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