🔗 Share this article

Justice Secretary David Lammy was met with boos and chants of "shame on you" as he spoke at a memorial for victims of the Manchester synagogue attack.

The former foreign secretary was criticized by certain in the audience of allowing anti-Jewish sentiment to rise during Labour's time in power.

The Justice Secretary, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, was further condemned for the administration's move to acknowledge a Palestinian state as a state by individuals who had gathered to express solidarity with those affected at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Crumpsall on the previous day.

Confrontation at the Memorial Service

The Deputy Prime Minister faced calls of "go to Palestine, leave us alone", apparently in reaction to the government's decision to establish relations with Palestine.

Before the official's address, one man could be overheard yelling: "My children's school was closed today. You have allowed this to happen."

"You are all guilty. You have allowed Jew hatred in Manchester, on the streets. You are all guilty. We do not want you speaking here today," the protester continued.

Another could be overheard saying "Empty words. We want action."

As the Justice Secretary started addressing with the word "friends", there were mocking and chuckles from some in the crowd.

Lammy's Response

The Justice Secretary told the crowd: "We stand in solidarity with the Jewish people, because an attack like this is never felt alone."

"Wherever you are in our country, Jewish people, our friends, our neighbours, our loved ones are terrified by the events of yesterday – of becoming targets, victims of antisemitic hate, simply for who they are," he continued.

"But I know this about Britain's Jewish community, a community I have known all of my life: You are strong, you are resilient, and you will never be cowed, and that's what I want you to know today – that our country, those of all colours, all faiths and none, stand with you."

Uproar resumed in the memorial gathering as the official said "that is why we stand in defiance of those terrorists who seek to divide us."

There were calls from the crowd, and one man could be heard saying "you enabled it, every Saturday", in reference to the weekly demonstrations through London and other cities.

The Justice Secretary continued: "We cannot, must not, let them divide us – we must show them who we really are, not what they want us to become or to believe."

The official concluded his remarks by asking those who are organizing demonstrations over the weekend to "reflect with all human dignity, grace and understanding" and to "stop and stand back."

After he finished speaking, another person yelled: "They called for our death in the past. Walk past a university some day."

Community Members Speak

Joanne Lazarus, sixty-one, from Whitefield, Bury, shouted "shame on you" and "you're embarrassing" at the official as he spoke at the vigil.

She said she wanted the government to stop pro-Palestine marches.

She told news agencies: "I took the chance to make my voice heard. I can't take these marches every single Saturday."

"I've been into town on a Saturday and have been told I'm a baby killer and to 'go home'," she continued.

"That hatred is felt through the whole of the UK and through what happened here yesterday. I knew it would happen."

The attendee, who attended the Heaton Park Shul when she was younger, said she did not think the official would "care" about the reaction he encountered at the memorial.

Incident Information

The memorial had been arranged following the deaths of two individuals, who lost their lives during the incident.

The first victim, 66, is reportedly stabbed to death by the attacker while 53-year-old Mr Daulby is understood to have been hit by a bullet fired by police as they tried to stop Al-Shamie.

Three other people were hurt, including one thought to be hit by officer gunfire.

Al-Shamie, who is reportedly arrived to the UK as a child from Syria in the mid-2000s, was fatally wounded at the location.

A suspected explosive device he was wearing was determined to be non-functional, authorities reported.