Manchester Alert: Police Thwart Alleged Jewish Terror Attack, Mayor Assures Community

Counter-terrorism police believe they have thwarted an alleged imminent terror attack targeting Manchester's Jewish community, leading to the arrest of two men. The operation unfolded as Jewish communities were preparing to celebrate Yom Kippur, the holiest day in their calendar, and coincided with the first anniversary of a deadly terror attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation.

Specialist counter-terror cops from the Metropolitan Police in London initiated the operation at 2:34 pm on Sunday, September 20, descending on Newton Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter to arrest two men on suspicion of terrorism. This was swiftly followed by a second swoop at Lancaster House, a men's hostel on Lancaster Road in Salford, and a raid on a flat in Liverpool. The arrests were made under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which allows officers to act without an arrest warrant, indicating the urgent nature of the threat. On Tuesday, searches continued for a third day at the Salford hostel. On September 22, warrants of further detention were obtained for both men, allowing them to be held in police custody until Sunday, September 27. The Metropolitan Police, leading the investigation, has stated there is no information to suggest any wider threat to the public.

The suspected terror plot drew immediate condemnation and expressions of concern from public figures and community organizations. Hannah Spencer, Green Party MP for Gorton and Denton, expressed her horror, noting the plot's timing during Yom Kippur and amidst rising antisemitism and hate crime. She called for collective efforts to tackle antisemitism. The Community Security Trust (CST), a body providing security for Jewish communities, described the situation as “utterly chilling” and a stark reminder of the serious terrorist threat facing Jewish communities. The CST thanked the police and urged the Jewish community to remain calm and vigilant.

Chief Superintendent Dave Meeney, who is leading the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) operation to protect Jewish communities, acknowledged the heightened concerns, particularly during such an important time of year. He reassured the public that GMP is enhancing visibility and security through additional activities. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that this was a “long-running proactive investigation” which successfully disrupted a plot against the Jewish community in Manchester. She emphasized ongoing close collaboration with GMP and partners to ensure public safety, stating that swift action would always be taken where a public threat is suspected.

Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council (JRC) of Greater Manchester, highlighted the deep concern within the Jewish community, especially on the anniversary of the Heaton Park attack where Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed. He expressed gratitude to the police and security services for preventing another potential tragedy but stressed the need for the Government to “redouble its efforts to tackle the root causes of the hatred and extremism” that motivate such attacks. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, in a joint statement with Deputy Mayor Kate Green, provided reassurance that the threat had been “mitigated” and pledged to do everything in their power to “stamp out the poison of antisemitism” in the city region. They also confirmed increased visible patrols and ongoing engagement with the community. Additionally, Bury, Salford, and Manchester councils were allocated shares of a £2 million recovery fund to support community cohesion work following the Heaton Park attack.

The national terror threat level remains ‘severe’, indicating that an attack is considered ‘highly likely’. The Jewish community in Greater Manchester has faced a significant rise in antisemitism, with over 200 incidents of extreme violence, assault, damage, desecration, threats, or abusive literature recorded in the first six months of 2026. This incident also follows previous successful thwarting of terrorist plots, including an Islamic State-inspired plan in summer 2024 to commit mass murder of Jews in Manchester, which resulted in the jailing of two Islamists in February.