Home Secretary condemns pro-Palestine march in wake of Manchester synagogue attack

Shabana Mahmood said pro-Palestine protests on Thursday night "should not have gone ahead".

"I am very clear that anyone who calls for the killing of our citizens who supports a banned terror organisation or otherwise incites racial hatred against our communities here in the UK will feel the full force of the law," she told LBC.

Ms Mahmood added: "What I would say to people who are concerned is even if we look at the protests that took place last night, which I don't think should have gone ahead, but the police did have a strong presence at those protests and they made something like 40 arrests."

Thursday's attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue at 9.31am saw a car driven into worshippers as they gathered to celebrate Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died in the attack, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.

Terrorist Jihad al Shamie, 35, then went on to stab members of the public before being shot dead outside the synagogue.

The force confirmed that formal identification is yet to take place but the families and next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

The Home Secretary also admitted antisemitism has been “rising” in the UK.

Speaking on LBC, Ms Mahmood was asked about comments made by Israel foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar that the UK Government is failing to curb “rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain”.

She said: “Myself and the Prime Minister both acknowledge that antisemitism in our country has been rising.

“It is completely unacceptable, and we both condemn it utterly. We will not stand for it.

“We have strong laws in our country against incitement to racial hatred.”

Crowds protesting Israel’s war on Gaza have descended on Parliament on Thursday evening - just hours after the Manchester attack.

Footage from the scene shows police detaining protesters as pro-Palestine flags are waved in the background.

It is understood that the march was organised to protest and demand protection for the global Gaza flotilla, sailing towards Palestine carrying aid and activists. Some of the vessels were intercepted by Israeli forces.

Today’s protest is disconnected from the murders in Manchester, with those gathered near Downing Street calling for the UK to condemn Israel’s decision to intercept Greta Thunberg’s freedom flotilla on Wednesday.

However, faith leaders have condemned the protests taking place so soon after the attack.

Three or four people were seen on the floor or in handcuffs amid reports of clashes.

At least three territorial support vans were deployed to the scene and around 300 people are in attendance, LBC understands.

The Metropolitan Police said: “At 17:20hrs on Wednesday, 2 October we were made aware of a spontaneous protest involving around 300 people on Whitehall, causing disruption to traffic.

“Officers on the scene have imposed conditions under the Section 14 of the Public Order Act in order to prevent serious disruption.

“Those taking part in the protest must remain on Richmond Terrace.”