UK remands 2 Iranians over alleged antisemitic terror plot

Two Iranian nationals charged with plotting acts of terrorism against the United Kingdom's Jewish community were remanded in custody by a court in London on Saturday.

The pair were detained on September 20, the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The case only came to light on Friday when the two men were charged, just days after another terror plot, which the UK has linked to Iran , was foiled.

Prosecutor Mark Luckett told Westminster Magistrates' Court that Rahman S., 34, and Salam ‌A., 36, are accused of carrying out "hostile reconnaissance" on Jewish targets in Manchester, northern England.

He said the two men planned to use a "homemade explosive device" and had allegedly been in contact with a third party, an Iranian national, most likely operating from within Iran.

The contact is alleged to have given the pair instructions on how ‌to put together a homemade device from chlorine and brake fluid, the court heard.

Luckett said the two suspects had used online resources, including images, plans and maps, to identify and research potential attack sites.

He told the court that the targets included the Manchester Jewish Museum and the Heaton Park synagogue, where two Jewish worshippers were killed in a knife attack a year ago on Friday.