The chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism said ‘the blood of British Jews cries out from the ground’ following the deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester
The boss of a leading antisemitism charity says an attack on British Jews was “inevitable” — and slammed the government for “allowing Islamist extremism to spread‘” Gideon Falter said successive governments had “done practically nothing to tackle” anti-Jew hatred.
His comments come after two members of the Jewish community were killed in Manchester on Thursday morning in a shocking attack on a synagogue. The tragedy on Yom Kipper – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar – has since been declared a terrorist incident.
The chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Today’s attack was made inevitable by the radicalisation and Islamist extremism that have been allowed to spread by successive governments, which have ignored every warning and done practically nothing to tackle it. Now, the blood of British Jews cries out from the ground.”
Emergency services rushed to Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the suburb of Crumpsall after a car was driven into a crowd at around 9.31am. A knifeman, thought to be wearing a suicide vest, then carried out a deadly rampage.
Along with the deaths of the worshippers, the suspected attacker was eventually shot dead by cops and four other members of the public have been left in a ‘serious condition’ in hospital.
Mr Falter went on: “Those who were murdered today were simply going to synagogue to pray on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
“It has been a long time since British Jews had faith in our politicians, police and institutions. Their appeasement of extremists – especially those of the far-left and radical Islamists – is what has made today’s attack inevitable.
“The eyes of the Jewish people worldwide and decent Britons across the country now turn to Downing Street, not for thoughts and prayers or empty declarations that antisemitism has no place in Britain, but to hear what concrete, forceful measures will now be enacted.
“Today, the blood of British Jews is on the hands of virtue-signalling politicians who have poured fuel on the fire of extremism with their posturing and appeasement, police forces and police chiefs who have failed to tackle the mobs on our streets, universities and schools that have tolerated incitement.
“The BBC, whose bias and moral collapse has essentially turned them into spokespeople for Hamas — whom they still refuse to call terrorists — and regulators like the Charity Commission that has failed abjectly to address dangerous rhetoric at mosques.
“We need firm and urgent action on each of these fronts, otherwise it is inevitable that yet more innocents will be murdered on our streets.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement that he was “appalled” by what happened in Manchester and “rising antisemitism again” must be “defeated again”.
Directly addressing the Jewish community, he said: “On behalf of our country I express our solidarity, but also my sadness you should still live with these fears”.
He added: “We’ll come together to wrap our arms around your community. We will show you Britain is a country where you and your family can be safe, secure and belong.”
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