Two Iranian nationals have been charged in Britain with preparing a terrorist attack against the Jewish community in northern England on the eve of Yom Kippur.

Salam Ahmadyan, 36, and Rahman Salehi, 35, were arrested on September 20 by counter-terrorism police in Manchester. Police said on Friday that they are charged with “engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts.”

Counter-terrorism police allege the men tried to acquire components for an improvised explosive device, gathered images and maps of potential targets and conducted reconnaissance. They were allegedly in contact with a third party who may be in Iran. Iran has denied such accusations.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said both men had arrived in Britain on small boats several years ago. They will appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

The charges came a year after a fatal attack on a Manchester synagogue, and a day after another suspected Iran-linked plot near a UK airbase.