Manchester Jewish community plot disrupted after two men arrested on terrorism suspicion

Police in Manchester have said they disrupted a suspected terrorist plot targeting the city's Jewish community after arresting two men on Sunday. The men, both in their 30s, were detained in the Northern Quarter area of the city centre at 14:45 BST on suspicion of offences under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The Metropolitan Police said the investigation is being led by counter-terrorism officers and remains ongoing.

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Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said the arrests followed a long-running proactive investigation and had led to the disruption of what police believe was a plot to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area. She said officers understood the news would cause further concern, particularly during the High Holy Day period. Police also confirmed that searches at properties in Liverpool and Salford have now been completed.

The two suspects remain in custody, and warrants of further detention have been granted, allowing police to hold them until 27 September. That gives investigators more time to examine material gathered during the operation and to continue inquiries into the suspected plot. The arrests were made shortly before Yom Kippur, which is widely regarded as the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The case has drawn attention because it comes during a period when Jewish communities in the UK typically increase security around synagogues and other communal sites. The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in the UK, described the suspected plot as deeply alarming and said it was in close contact with police during the High Holy Days. The timing has also heightened concern because it comes close to the anniversary of last year's attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.

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That attack, which took place on Yom Kippur last year, killed Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, after Jihad Al-Shamie drove into the gates of the synagogue in Crumpsall and then attacked with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt. The reference to that incident has added to the sensitivity around the latest arrests, even though police have not publicly linked the two cases beyond the broader concern for community safety. For Jewish organisations, the latest development reinforces the continuing need for visible protection and rapid reporting of suspicious activity.

The Metropolitan Police said counter-terrorism officers are continuing to focus on identifying and disrupting people who want to cause harm in communities. The force has not released further details about the alleged target, the nature of the suspected plot, or whether any weapons or devices were recovered. It has also not said whether the men arrested are being questioned over any wider network or whether other arrests are expected.

What remains unclear is the full scope of the alleged plan and how far the investigation has progressed beyond the arrests and property searches. Police have said the inquiry is active, and the detention warrants suggest investigators are still working through evidence. The next developments are likely to centre on whether charges follow, what further details police can disclose, and whether the case leads to any additional security measures around Jewish sites in Manchester and beyond.

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