A suspected terrorist plot targeting Jewish people in Manchester ahead of Yom Kippur was foiled by terror police.
Two men aged in their 30s were arrested at Newton Street on Sunday on suspicion of offences under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Yom Kippur ran from sundown on Sunday to nightfall on Monday and is widely considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Arrests caused concern during High Holy day period
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said the arrests would cause further concern to the Jewish community, especially during the significant High Holy day period.
The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, described the suspected plot as utterly chilling because it came close to the anniversary of last year’s terror attack at Manchester’s Heaton Park Synagogue on Yom Kippur.
The CST said the arrests of the two men were allegedly related to what police believed was a plot to attack the Manchester Jewish community. It also said it had been in close communication with police in Manchester and around the country throughout Yom Kippur as part of its security operation over the High Holy Days.
The organisation urged the Jewish community to remain calm and alert, and to report suspicious activity to police on 999 and then to the CST.
Previous attack at Heaton Park synagogue
Melvin Cravitz, aged 66, and Adrian Daulby, aged 53, were killed on October 2 last year when Jihad Al-Shamie, aged 35, drove into the gates of Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall and began a knife attack while wearing a fake suicide belt.
Related: Two men arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in Manchester
Source: Metro News
