UK Police Arrest Suspects in Manchester Terror Plot Targeting Jewish Community

British counter-terrorism police have arrested two men in Manchester on suspicion of terrorism offenses as part of an ongoing investigation. Sources close to the inquiry suggest the arrests are linked to an alleged immediate threat against the local Jewish community. The arrests were made by officers from London's Scotland Yard unit on Sunday, followed by further raids on a guesthouse in Salford and an apartment in Liverpool.

The investigation is reportedly expected to expand to the Cheetham Hill and Heaton Park areas, both known for their significant Jewish populations. According to the Manchester Evening News, which first reported the story, police believe the threat to the Jewish community has now been thwarted.

Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism policing, stated, "This is a proactive investigation that has been ongoing for some time, which has led to the disruption of what we believe was a plot to commit an attack against the Jewish community in the Manchester area." The UK's national terror threat level is currently set at 'severe,' meaning an attack is considered highly likely.

The arrests come a year after a deadly synagogue attack in Jerusalem, though the article does not explicitly link the two events beyond the general context of threats against Jewish communities. The report also references ongoing concerns about rising antisemitism and Iranian influence in the UK.