Vanessa Feltz has bravely opened up about a "terrifying" incident she allegedly encountered at the hands of pro-Palestine demonstrators following Thursday's terror attack on a Jewish synagogue in Crumpsall near Manchester.
On Thursday, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British national of Syrian descent, drove at high speed into a group of Jewish worshippers before proceeding to attack his victims with a knife.
Two men, who've been named as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were killed, and three others remain in hospital with serious injuries. Al-Shamie was shot dead by police at the scene.
Following the terror incident, pro-Palestine protests took place in a number of UK cities, including Manchester and London.
Channel 5 Vanessa: Vanessa Feltz opened Friday's show with an emotional monologue
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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood slammed the protests for going ahead following the attack. The Met Police has also urged organisers to step down from planned events this weekend in solidarity with the Jewish community.
Following the horror on Thursday, Ms Feltz, who is Jewish, opened her Channel 5 talk show with a passionate monologue about the current state of affairs for Jews and how she has fallen victim to the vitriol of certain demonstrators.
"Before we get started with today’s topic, I did just want to speak about the awful events in Manchester yesterday," Ms Feltz said at the top of her show before she delved into the latest developments released by Greater Manchester Police.
She explained: "The reason that I wanted to talk about this before we really get started on the show is simply because I can’t see any point at all in broadcasting if I don’t do it from the heart. And honestly, I’m 63 years old, and why am I here if it’s not to say what I really feel and think?"
Channel 5 Vanessa: Vanessa Feltz was joined by her daughter on the panel (second from left)
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Ms Feltz went on to clarify to viewers that she's Jewish, explaining that she "was born in Britain" and that her family consists of "seven generations, including my children and grandchildren... born here in Great Britain".
She said: "I love this country. I couldn’t feel more British. I’m British to my heart, my soul, my core... I love Britain with every fibre of my being. And if I’m not British, what can I possibly be? I’ve never lived anywhere else. I don’t speak any other languages, really.
"But I am Jewish as well, and yesterday what happened was such a terrible, terrible shock to me and to my family."
The Channel 5 talk show then explained that it was "not a surprise" to witness the antisemitic attack, pointing out "antisemitic incidents have increased by 117 percent in the last two years". "That means that for every 1,000 Jewish people in this country—and there are only 230,000 Jewish people in this country—the chances are that of every 1,000, 12 people will have experienced some kind of antisemitic attack or incident," she highlighted.
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Channel 5 Vanessa: Vanessa Feltz was left 'trembling' as she recalled her own antisemitic experience
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Delving into her own experiences, she stated: "And it did happen to me, too, when I came out of my work at LBC, and I walked into a pro-Palestinian march, and somebody started screaming over the microphone, 'Vanessa Feltz, Vanessa Feltz, fascist Zionist scum. Vanessa Feltz, Vanessa Feltz, fascist Zionist scum!'
"I’m a 63-year-old grandma. I look around, and there’s a guy chasing me. Pretty terrifying, actually, but, you know, I’m absolutely fine, obviously.
"But yesterday was this feeling that Jewish people, on the holiest day of the year were simply walking to synagogue, and for the fact that you’re Jewish and you’re walking along in this wonderful, wonderful country that we’re so pleased and proud to be part of, there was somebody, at least one person, who wanted to kill you for doing that."
The emotional toll of the subject began to take an effect on Ms Feltz, who acknowledged she was "trembling" while delivering her monologue.
Channel 5 Vanessa: Vanessa Feltz asked viewers for their thoughts on how to communicate terror attacks with their children
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She then detailed how members of her own family were in a synagogue yesterday, and when alerted to the attack in Manchester, they were told to "immediately mobilise" and proceeded to put on stab vests.
Ms Feltz claimed her grandchildren were unable to sleep as a result. "It’s an extraordinary feeling—that people might want to hurt you or kill you because of who you are, when they know nothing about you at all. They know nothing about what your beliefs or feelings are. It really is the most extraordinary feeling," she explained.
She signed off her speech by sending her "deepest, deepest condolences to those who lost their dear and beloved family members in Manchester".
Shortly after she delivered the impassioned monologue, social media was awash with fans sending their messages of support to the 63-year-old.
Two people died following the attack at the Manchester synagogue on Thursday
| PAOn Facebook, one user replied to a clip of the speech saying: "Lots of people support you, Vanessa. You are a national treasure. I felt for you yesterday and even more today."
A second echoed: "A very emotional Vanessa this morning on C5, she is a lovely person and her family. So much hate in the world, it's terrible. Praying for the Jewish communities all over the UK."
Sir Keir Starmer, accompanied by Lady Victoria Starmer, during a visit to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester on Friday
| PA"Vanassa, I watched you earlier today, and my heart went out to you and your daughter. More people must speak out about what they go through. Your voices need to be heard. My thoughts are with the victims and their families," a third weighed in.
Elsewhere, a fourth commented: "It breaks my heart to hear this, Vanessa. Why can't we all live in peace with each other? God bless you and your family x."