Pro-Palestine protests are due to go ahead tomorrow despite calls from grieving Jewish community leaders, the home secretary and police to delay them in the wake of the murder of two people at a synagoue in Manchester on Thursday.
The Met Police has asked Defend Our Juries (DOR) to postpone its Trafalgar Square demonstration against Palestine Action being proscribed by the UK Government as a terror group.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood urged pro-Palestine demonstrators to “step back” from their plans to stage marches this weekend.
DOR refused, saying their protests would go ahead as planned.
This comes after pro-Palestinian protests took place in Manchester city centre and in London on Thursday night. The Met made 40 arrests.
‘Govt must get a grip on this, and fast’
Keith Rowe, vice-chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, based in Birmingham, said of Thursday’s atrocity at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall: “Unfortunately this has been a problem waiting to happen as those who wish the Jewish community harm have been allowed to become ever more emboldened since the October 7th attacks.”
On the ongoing pro-Palestine protests, he said: “The Government needs to get a grip on this, and fast. Sadly, few in the community will have confidence in them doing so given their recent record.”
He added: “We must pray for the victims and their families and the authorities must genuinely work to route out potential terrorists and those who support their organisations.”
Mr Rowe’s words echoed those of Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “You cannot separate the words on our streets, the actions of people in this way, and what inevitably results, which was yesterday’s terrorist attack.
“The two are directly linked and therefore we call on the Government yet again, we’ve been doing so continuously, and yet again we say get a grip on these demonstrations, they are dangerous.”
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, died after a man drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people.
Police in Manchester said Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, carried out the attack before being shot dead by officers at the scene.
