British authorities have charged two Iranian nationals accused of preparing a terror attack targeting the Jewish community in northern England ahead of Yom Kippur.

The suspects, identified as Rahman Salehi, 35, and Salam Ahmadian, 36, were arrested during a counterterrorism investigation in Manchester in September. They have now been charged with preparing and assisting in the commission of an act of terrorism.

According to British investigators, the alleged plot targeted the Jewish community and was being prepared ahead of Yom Kippur.

Counterterrorism detectives believe the two suspects may have been acting at the direction of a third party overseas, potentially in Iran. British authorities stressed that the investigation remains ongoing.

Vicki Evans, Britain’s senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, described the allegations against the two men as extremely serious.

Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said prosecutors determined that there was sufficient evidence to bring the case before the courts, while stressing that protecting Britain’s Jewish community remains a priority.

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Sha