The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has branded pro-Palestine protesters, who said they don’t support Jews in the UK, as “un-British” and “utterly disgraceful”.
She told GB News that she doesn’t want British Jews to “live a smaller Jewish life because of the fear of antisemitism.”
It follows a terrorist attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, where two men were killed and four others were hospitalised with serious injuries.
Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British national of Syrian descent, was shot dead by police at the scene after driving at high speed into a group of Jewish worshippers and using a knife on the victims.
The two men killed in the terror attack were named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, from Crumpsall.
Speaking to Britain’s news channel, Ms Mahmood said: “My thoughts remain with the victims and the families of all those who have been murdered.
“And I particularly want to thank the members of the community who were worshipping at the synagogue yesterday, whose quick action undoubtedly saved lives.
“Alongside the quick reaction of the police who brought this attack to an end within seven minutes of receiving the first phone call.
“In terms of the attacker, this individual was not known to the security services. He has obviously been shot dead at the scene, but the police investigations will now continue at pace.”
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The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has branded pro-Palestine protesters, who said they don’t support Jews in the UK, as ‘un-British’
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GB NEWS
The Home Secretary added: “What I want to do is to reassure the community that this Government will take the rising tide of antisemitism seriously.
“We already invest in security for the community, security at places of worship as well as other communal institutions, because we don’t want our Jewish community here in Britain to have to live a smaller Jewish life because of the fear of anti-Semitism.
“It is really important that we hold the line between what is legitimate in our country, which is protest and so on.
“But that behaviour which crosses the line and breaks our laws, the laws of our land, must be upheld, and I will ensure that they are.”
Pro-Palestine protests were taking place just hours after this attack
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Pro-Palestine protests were taking place just hours after this attack, with one protester outside Downing Street heard shouting: “I don’t give a f*** about the Jewish community right now.”
When asked for a response, Ms Mahmood said: “Those messages are utterly disgraceful. They are fundamentally un-British in nature, as far as I’m concerned.”
She called for Britons to “step back from protesting for at least a few days just to give the Jewish community here a chance to process what has happened and to begin the grieving process.”
“I am very disappointed that some of the organisers haven’t heeded the call to step back,” Ms Mahmood added.
Shabana Mahmood has called for Brits to ‘step back from protesting for at least a few days’
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In a recorded message to Jewish people, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “I know how much fear you will be holding inside of you. I really do… Nobody should have to do that. Nobody.
“And so I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve, starting with a more visible police presence, protecting your community.
“I promise you that over the coming days, you will see the other Britain, the Britain of compassion, of decency, of love.”
A spokesman for the Met Police said: “A protest organised by the ‘Global Movement for Gaza UK’ took place in Whitehall [last night].
“Officers imposed Public Order Act conditions on the protest to keep roads open and prevent serious disruption.
“Regrettably, a significant number of those present were intent on breaching the conditions, leading to clashes with officers who moved in to enforce them.
“40 people have been arrested. Six of those arrests were for assaults on police officers while the majority were for breaching conditions.”