Two men in their thirties were arrested on Sunday in Manchester on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack targeting the city’s Jewish community, authorities confirmed. The arrests occurred in the city center’s Northern Quarter on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The men remain in custody under terrorism legislation as investigations continue.
Specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing London, working alongside MI5, carried out the operation. Police executed multiple raids, including at a nearby hostel and additional locations in Salford and Liverpool. Warrants to extend the detention of both suspects were granted, allowing authorities to hold them until Sunday pending any charges. Officials have stated there is no ongoing threat to the public stemming from this investigation.
The probe is described by senior counterterrorism officials as a long-running, proactive investigation that led to the disruption of what is believed to be a planned attack on the Jewish community in the Manchester area. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, emphasized the significance of the disruption, expressing a commitment to protecting the community.
Eyewitnesses reported a heavy police presence during the arrests, with multiple unmarked vehicles and officers in tactical gear involved. One witness working nearby described seeing a man detained forcibly and pointed to the large-scale nature of the operation.
The timing of the arrests has drawn attention due to their proximity to the first anniversary of last year’s deadly attack at the Heaton Park Synagogue in north Manchester. On October 2, 2022, an assailant armed with a knife and wearing a fake suicide vest assaulted worshippers on Yom Kippur, killing Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53. That attack led to increased security measures for Jewish places of worship in the area.
Local and community leaders have responded with concern. Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, called the disrupted plot "an incredibly concerning time for Jewish people" and urged the government to intensify efforts to combat hatred and extremism. The Community Security Trust, which monitors anti-Semitism in the UK, described the foiled plot as “utterly chilling” and a reminder of the serious threats facing Jewish communities.
Greater Manchester Police have pledged robust protection for the city's Jewish population, with plans for dedicated patrols ahead of Sukkot, the week-long Jewish festival beginning Friday. The authorities reiterated their commitment to preventing further acts of terrorism targeting religious and minority communities in the region.