Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood hit out at pro-Palestine protests across the country, saying they were ‘dishonourable’ following the Manchester terror attack on a synagogue
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has branded pro-Palestine protesters “un-British” for demonstrating hours after the Manchester synagogue attack.
Ms Mahmood said those who joined protests were “dishonourable” and said she would have wanted them to “take a step back”. Two people – named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66 – died in the attack while three more were in hospital last night with serious injuries.
Thousands of people descended on central London and cities across the UK to protest after a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza was intercepted and those onboard – including Greta Thunberg – were detained. Ms Mahmood said: “I was very disappointed to see those protests go ahead. Last night, I think that behaviour is fundamentally un-British, I think it’s dishonorable.
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“I would have wanted those individuals to just take a step back. The issues that are driving those protests have been going on now for some time, they don’t look like they’re going to come to an end any day soon.
“They could have stepped back and just given a community that has suffered deep loss, just a day or two to process what has happened and to carry on with the grieving process. I think some humanity could have been shown. I am disappointed that humanity and solidarity wasn’t shown to our Jewish community.”
The Met Police said 40 arrests had been made. Protesters clashed with officers close to Downing Street, while posters shared online called for demonstrations at 18 other places in the UK.
Terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie was shot dead by police after he targeted worshippers at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester shortly before 9.30am.
The attack took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Pressed on what her advice to the Jewish community is, Ms Mahmood said she wants to see people going about their daily lives.
The Home Secretary said: “I think that after such a devastating attack it’s a human reaction to think about what you can and cannot do. What I want to reassure our Jewish community of is that the policing resources are in place, we are working very closely with the Community Security Trust because we want our community to feel that they can go about their daily business.
“And I would want to see people going about their daily business. I acknowledge that there will be fear and that is why I say I do not want Jewish people in our country to feel like they have to live a smaller Jewish life, that they cannot go about their business and practice their faith and go to their communal institutions in freedom.
“We will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and security.”
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