Rabbi issues stark warning to British Jews in wake of Sydney shooting: 'Could have happened in our own backyard!'

So far, 12 people are confirmed dead after two gunmen opened fire on crowds along the popular Australian beach on the first day of Hanukkah.

The incident has since been declared a terrorist attack by local authorities.

British police forces have heightened security across Jewish communities after the terror attack.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed they will increase officers' presence around synagogues in the Capital, as thousands of Jews flock to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah.

When the Manchester-based rabbi first heard about the horrific attack in the Australian capital, he immediately thought back to the synagogue atrocity which happened back in October in his own town.

"I thought, 'here we go again'. But actually, this turned out to be much, much worse," he told Dawn.

He continued: "Of course, there were several deaths, and it's really just a reminder of what could have happened here in our own backyard in Manchester itself.

"The killing is appalling in every possible sense. It was innocent people. They were civilians at a religious event, you know, a joyous communal event for families.

"And of course, the men were long distance. They had no idea who they were killing. It was totally indiscriminate murder just for its own sake.

"Obviously, they were targeting Jewish people, but they may well have included others who were just watching on or or being supportive. There's nothing good to say about this."

Now, he added, the "big worry" is that it could become a copycat event for major centres across Britain during the Hanukkah period.

"This was pre-planned. It was premeditated. You have to say these were - I don't normally use these words - but evil, wicked people killing Jews," he condemned.

"It's not as if they were attacking a military installation. They were just attacking ordinary civilians.

"Nothing good can come of it, and we just have to hold our heads in horror."

He added that he was surprised, but not shocked, citing the Manchester attack when a man ploughed into pedestrians before stabbing worshippers at a synagogue in Crumpsall in October.

"One of the good things about Australia is that, after there was a massacre in Tasmania in 1996 and mass shooting, they introduced some very tough gun laws, which means that actually guns have been in fairly short supply," Rabbi Romain continued.

He added that he believes Jewish communities "need immediate levels of extra police protection at events or synagogues", although he insisted upon a balanced response.

"In other words, we don't want to turn synagogues into fortresses," he told Dawn. "We don't want to surround ourselves with barbed wire.

"It would be giving in to the gunman if we sort of isolated ourselves from the rest of society or limited our own activity.

"So yes, be vigilant, be careful, have extra protection, but also keep our doors open.

"It's a difficult balance, especially when you you see the body bags on television, but it's one we've got to keep. Otherwise we give them victory."

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