Justice Secretary David Lammy was heckled and booed by some of the crowd as he addressed a vigil near the scene of the Manchester synagogue attack. As he took to the stage, he faced calls of “shame on you”, “go to Palestine, leave us alone”, “you’ve allowed it to grow on the campuses” and “you have blood on your hands”.
Lammy told the vigil that “we all feel terrorism” and used the example of his “best childhood friend” who was “blown to smithereens” in the 7 July 2005 London bombings. He said: “We stand with you against those who think bombs and blasts will break us, we stand against all states who would minimise or coddle or obfuscate on anti-Jewish hate.”
However, uproar resumed in the vigil crowd as Lammy said “that is why we stand in defiance of those terrorists who seek to divide us”. There were shouts from attendees, and one man could be heard saying “you enabled it, every Saturday”.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson addressed the vigil, pledging to continue “relentlessly, professionally, ruthlessly” against those who would harm the Jewish community. Mayor Andy Burnham said: “We care about you, we love you, we value what you have given to Greater Manchester over the years.”
Police have made three more arrests in connection with the attack, bringing the total to six. Rabbi Daniel Walker from Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation paid thanks to “one of the heroes” recovering in hospital from “terrible wounds”.
