British counter-terrorism police said Tuesday they believe a suspected terrorist plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community was foiled after two men in their 30s were arrested in the city centre on Sunday. The operation, led by the Metropolitan Police with support from forces in the North West, comes as congregations prepare for Yom Kippur and a week after the first anniversary of a deadly stabbing attack in the city.
Arrests and searches
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans of the Met said officers detained the suspects in Newton Street on Sunday on suspicion of offences under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Both men remain in custody while investigators examine digital devices and conduct searches at linked addresses in Salford and Liverpool, according to statements reviewed by the BBC and the Manchester Evening News.
Evans acknowledged the news would cause “further concern” to Jewish residents, “especially given the significant High Holy day period.” Police stressed there is no information suggesting a wider threat to the general public, but Greater Manchester synagogues were advised to review access controls and coordinate with local patrols.
Community context
The Manchester Evening News reported that well-placed sources linked the investigation to an alleged imminent threat against Jewish targets, which police believe has now been thwarted. The arrests landed on the eve of Yom Kippur, when attendance at services typically peaks, and roughly a year after an attack at a synagogue in which two congregants were killed.
Community security groups said they had been in contact with Counter Terrorism Policing North West throughout the weekend. Leaders urged worshippers to arrive early, avoid sharing live locations online, and report suspicious activity through the national hotline.
Investigation scope
Investigators are expected to extend inquiries into additional neighbourhoods, including areas with historic Jewish populations in north Manchester. Forensic teams have been seen at a hostel on Lancaster Road in Salford and a flat in Liverpool linked to the suspects, though police have not released charges or detailed allegations.
Home Office officials declined to comment on whether threat levels would change nationally, noting that the UK’s terrorism threat remains “substantial,” meaning an attack is likely. Ministers are scheduled to receive a classified briefing on domestic extremism trends later this week.
What comes next
Crown prosecutors will decide whether to bring terrorism charges or related firearms and conspiracy counts once searches conclude. Jewish communal organisations said they would maintain elevated security through the High Holy Days regardless of the custody clock, citing both Sunday’s arrests and ongoing tensions linked to the Middle East conflict.
For Greater Manchester, the bulletin is the police statement itself: a suspected plot disrupted, two men in custody, and a community entering its holiest day under watch—not because police disclosed a continuing attack plan, but because the calendar and last year’s violence leave little margin for complacency.
