Two Iranian Nationals Charged Over Alleged Yom Kippur Terror Plot in Manchester

British police have charged two Iranian nationals accused of plotting a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in Manchester on the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, were charged with "engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts" on or before September 20, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police. The two men had allegedly been in contact with an overseas third-party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot.

According to charging documents, Salehi and Ahmadyan had acquired components for manufacturing an improvised explosive device and conducted reconnaissance for potential targets. The charges follow a wider counterterrorism investigation that has also touched the recent security incidents at RAF Fairford, where the U.S. maintained bombers used for strikes against Iran.

Separately, on Monday police arrested five British nationals in connection with a massive security operation near RAF Fairford. The five men, all from London and in their early to mid-20s, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offenses after three suspicious vehicles were seen moving toward the base. They were released on bail, but police subsequently arrested a dual U.K.-Iranian national in relation to that incident.

Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, said the alleged plot in Manchester was not connected to the incident at the airbase but warned of the wider threat environment. "This week also brought into sharp focus some of the wider threats being projected into the UK from Iran," Evans said. "While this incident and the investigation into the RAF Fairford incident are not connected in any way, I want to reassure the public that CTP, working with our national security partners, are using the full range of our capabilities to protect the UK from any hostile acts."

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are strong indications that Tehran played a part in the security incident outside the air base. Iran has denied any involvement in both incidents.

Reporting by NBC News. Read the original report: Two Iranian nationals charged over alleged terrorism plot targeting Jewish.

Additional sourcing from CNN: UK charges 2 Iranian men over alleged Yom Kippur terror plot in Manchester.