🔗 Share this article

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was greeted by boos and chants of "shame on you" as he spoke at a vigil for victims of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation incident.

The former foreign secretary was accused by some in the crowd of permitting anti-Jewish sentiment to rise during Labour's time in power.

The Justice Secretary, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, was also condemned for the government's decision to recognize Palestine as a sovereign entity by individuals who had come to show solidarity with those affected at the Manchester synagogue in Crumpsall on Thursday.

Hostile Exchange at the Memorial Service

Mr Lammy faced calls of "go to Palestine, leave us alone", seemingly in response to the administration's policy to establish relations with Palestine.

Ahead of 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 individual added.

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

As the Justice Secretary began his speech with the word "friends", there were scoffs and laughter from some in the gathering.

Lammy's Response

The Justice Secretary addressed the audience: "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 added.

"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 shouts from attendees, and one individual could be heard saying "you enabled it, every Saturday", in reference to the regular pro-Palestine marches through London and other cities.

The Deputy Prime Minister 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 coming days to "reflect with all human dignity, grace and understanding" and to "stop and stand back."

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

Attendees Voice Concerns

A community member, sixty-one, from Whitefield, Bury, shouted "shame on you" and "you're embarrassing" at Mr Lammy as he spoke at the memorial.

She said she wanted the administration 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."

Ms Lazarus, who was familiar with the synagogue when she was younger, said she did not think the official would "care" about the response he received at the memorial.

Incident Information

The memorial had been organized following the deaths of Melvyn Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, who lost their lives during the attack.

Mr Cravitz, 66, is understood to have been fatally attacked by the attacker while 53-year-old Mr Daulby is understood to have been struck by gunfire discharged by officers as they tried to stop the attacker.

Three other people were injured, including one also believed to have been hit by officer gunfire.

The attacker, who is reportedly arrived to the UK as a youth from Syria in 2006, was shot dead at the location.

A suspected explosive device he was wearing was determined to be non-functional, police said.