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Two Iranian men charged over alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 16 outlets across the spectrum.

21 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

British counter-terrorism police have charged two Iranian nationals, Rahman Salehi and Salam Ahmadyan, with preparing an act of terrorism in connection with an alleged plot against the Jewish community in Manchester. The men, both in their 30s, were arrested on 20 September, the eve of Yom Kippur, in the Northern Quarter of the city. Prosecutors allege the pair targeted the Manchester Jewish Museum and Heaton Park synagogue, acquiring materials and instructions for homemade explosives and conducting reconnaissance of possible sites. Police said the men entered the UK on small boats and may have been in contact with a third party possibly based in Iran. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the charges would be distressing for the Jewish community. The men are due to appear in court.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Two Iranian nationals, Rahman Salehi and Salam Ahmadyan, were charged with preparing to commit an act of terrorism.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. The men were arrested on 20 September, the eve of Yom Kippur, in Manchester's Northern Quarter.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. The alleged plot targeted the Manchester Jewish Museum and Heaton Park synagogue.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  4. Both men are reported to have entered the UK via small boats.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  5. Police said the men may have been in contact with a third party, possibly in Iran, in relation to the plot.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points
  1. The charges were announced on the anniversary of a deadly attack at Heaton Park synagogue last year that killed two people.

    Reported byRight

  2. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the news would be "deeply distressing" to the Jewish community.

    Reported byCenter

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The exact age of Rahman Salehi.

    The Guardian, NBC News and BBC report his age as 35, while the New York Post and Breitbart report it as 34.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    6 outlets

    Left-side outlets use straightforward, factual headlines describing the men as charged over an alleged terror plot against the Jewish community, largely following police statements without extra descriptors.

    Two Iranian men identified Manchester synagogue as site for alleged bomb plot, court hears
    The GuardianLeftAll left-leaning headlines
  • the center

    5 outlets

    Center outlets' headlines specify the men's migrant status and the exact targets of the alleged plot, with some noting the men arrived by small boat.

    UK remands 2 Iranians over alleged antisemitic terror plot
    Deutsche WelleCenterAll center headlines
  • the right

    5 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right-side outlets emphasize the suspects' illegal entry via small boats and the anniversary of the earlier deadly synagogue attack, with one outlet (PJ Media) framing the story as an opinion piece mocking UK immigration policy.

    U.K. police charge two Iranian nationals in connection to an alleged terror plot
    Just the NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right7

    flung open its doorspoor, besieged refugeesoverflowing with gratitudeFind a Way to Show Their Gratitude

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    flung open its doorsMore neutral: allowed entry to

    Exaggerated metaphor characterizing immigration policy as reckless rather than describing it factually.

    Britain has flung open its doors to multitudes of poor, besieged refugees from all over our weary world.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    poor, besieged refugeesMore neutral: refugees

    Sarcastic description used to mock sympathetic framing of migrants rather than describe them neutrally.

    Britain has flung open its doors to multitudes of poor, besieged refugees from all over our weary world.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    overflowing with gratitudeMore neutral: the two men

    Sarcastic phrase implying the suspects' alleged actions are evidence of ingratitude, a judgement beyond the facts.

    And now two of these refugees, positively overflowing with gratitude for their gracious, unselfish and remarkably generous hosts, have found a…

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    Find a Way to Show Their GratitudeMore neutral: Charged Over Alleged Terror Plot

    Sarcastically frames the suspects' alleged terror plot as a response to British generosity, implying judgement about migrants as a group.

    Two Small-Boat Migrants to the UK Find a Way to Show Their Gratitude

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

Show 3 more phrasesShow fewer
  • Dehumanizing label

    illegal boat migrantsMore neutral: migrants who arrived by boat

    Repeats a loaded immigration-status label rather than a neutral description of how the men entered the country.

    Two illegal boat migrants from Iran have been charged in Britain with allegedly plotting a terror attack…

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Dehumanizing label

    Illegal MigrantsMore neutral: migrants

    Labels the suspects' immigration status in a way that frames them primarily as lawbreakers rather than using a neutral descriptor.

    Two Iranian Illegal Migrants Charged with Plotting Terror Attacks on Jewish Targets in Britain

    Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    notoriousMore neutral: known for (describe)

    Judgement of reputation as fact.

    It comes as no surprise that the two accused arrived in Britain in one of the notorious "small boat" incursions, and were allowed to remain.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

6 outlets

Leads with

  • official police and prosecutor statements
  • counter-terrorism investigation details
  • community impact

Leaves out

  • anniversary of the Heaton Park synagogue attack
  • specific bomb-making materials described in detail

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

5 outlets

Leads with

  • specific targets (museum and synagogue)
  • migration status of suspects
  • government reaction, including the Home Secretary's comments

Leaves out

  • anniversary of the deadly Heaton Park synagogue attack

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

5 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • illegal immigration status of suspects
  • detailed description of bomb-making plans
  • anniversary of the fatal Heaton Park synagogue attack
  • criticism of UK border and asylum policy

Leaves out

  • Home Secretary's statement

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    U.K. police charge two Iranian nationals in connection to an alleged terror plot

    Rahman Salehi, 34, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, are the suspects charged

  • RedStateFar Right

    UK Charges 2 Iranians in Jewish Community Bomb Plot

    Two Iranian nationals are now in custody in the United Kingdom, suspected of plotting an attack with a homemade chlorine bomb on the Jewish community of Manchester. …

  • The Washington TimesRightAssociated Press report

    Prosecutor says 2 Iranian men scouted a U.K. synagogue for a chlorine bomb plot

    Two Iranian men conducted surveillance of a U.K. synagogue that was the site of a deadly attack a year ago as part of a plot to bomb it this year, a prosecutor said Saturday.

    Also published by PBS NewsHour. It counts once.

  • Two Iranian Dehumanizing label“Illegal Migrants”Labels the suspects' immigration status in a way that frames them primarily as lawbreakers rather than using a neutral descriptor.More neutral: migrantsDisagree with this highlight? Charged with Plotting Terror Attacks on Jewish Targets in Britain

    Two Dehumanizing label“illegal boat migrants”Repeats a loaded immigration-status label rather than a neutral description of how the men entered the country.More neutral: migrants who arrived by boatDisagree with this highlight? from Iran have been charged in Britain with allegedly plotting a terror attack on Jewish targets in Manchester last month.

  • Two Iranians charged with plotting terror attack on British Jews on Yom Kippur after arrest of Iran national in US airbase plot

    The pair's alleged plot coincided with the anniversary of last year's attacks at a UK synagogue which left two dead.

  • PJ MediaFar RightOpinion

    Two Small-Boat Migrants to the UK Loaded modifier“Find a Way to Show Their Gratitude”Sarcastically frames the suspects' alleged terror plot as a response to British generosity, implying judgement about migrants as a group.More neutral: Charged Over Alleged Terror PlotDisagree with this highlight?

    Isn’t it wonderful? Britain has Loaded verb“flung open its doors”Exaggerated metaphor characterizing immigration policy as reckless rather than describing it factually.More neutral: allowed entry toDisagree with this highlight? to multitudes of Loaded modifier“poor, besieged refugees”Sarcastic description used to mock sympathetic framing of migrants rather than describe them neutrally.More neutral: refugeesDisagree with this highlight? from all over our weary world. British taxpayers are happy — indeed, honored — to forego a few luxuries here and there in order to provide for these new arrivals, and to let them know …

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    5 hr 11 min later

    Its first report, Oct 2, 3:46 PM EDT

  • Center

    First to report

    Sky News, Oct 2, 10:36 AM EDT

  • Right

    8 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 2, 6:40 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. Sky NewsCenterOct 2, 10:36 AM EDT
  2. The GuardianLeftOct 2, 3:46 PM EDT
  3. NBC NewsLeftOct 2, 3:59 PM EDT
  4. BBC NewsCenterOct 2, 4:19 PM EDT
  5. The New York TimesLeftOct 2, 5:54 PM EDT
  6. Financial TimesCenterOct 2, 5:56 PM EDT
  7. BloombergLeftOct 2, 6:10 PM EDT
  8. New York PostRightOct 2, 6:40 PM EDT
  9. CBS NewsLeftOct 2, 10:04 PM EDT
  10. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 2, 11:56 PM EDT
  11. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 3, 7:51 AM EDT
  12. The Washington TimesRightOct 3, 11:00 AM EDT
  13. Deutsche WelleCenterOct 3, 12:10 PM EDT
  14. PBS NewsHourCenterOct 3, 1:24 PM EDT
  15. RedStateFar RightOct 3, 1:59 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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