Antisemitism campaigner tells officials 'hang your heads in shame' in passionate response to synagogue stabbings

The passion-filled comments come after an attacker drove a vehicle at worshippers and stabbed multiple people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries on Judaism's most sacred day.

Two people have been confirmed dead in the wake of the attack, with a further three members of the public in hospital in a serious condition.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Sacerdoti said: "The atmosphere in this country has been toxic now for at least two years, since October 7, 2023, when Israel was invaded.

"Since then, many Jews have stopped wearing visible signs of their identity. Some who would previously have spoken Hebrew in public no longer do so.

"Conversations about immigration, which were once rare, have become widespread. It’s not just an anxious mood; people feel alienated. And this latest attack is only going to make that worse.

"To hear reassurances from people like Sadiq Khan about extra police in London for synagogues, or from Keir Starmer as he comes back to the UK and chairs a Cobra meeting, it all rings hollow for so many Jewish people.

"These are the same people who, for two years, have failed to do enough to stop this rising climate of hate.

"If there’s a climate crisis we should all be worried about, it isn’t just the environmental one. It’s the climate of hate.

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"If there are rising temperatures threatening our lives, it’s the rising temperature of hatred. That is the climate crisis I want people to be concerned about.

He added: "Over the last two years, we’ve seen violent marches on our streets, Jewish buildings attacked and daubed with fake blood, Jewish people assaulted.

"All of this has led to what we’ve just seen today, on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

"It is not enough to hear statements of concern, sympathy and empathy from officials.

"They should hang their heads in shame that we have reached a point where Jewish people felt this was coming, and when it did happen, we were not even surprised."

Armed officers arrived within a minute and discharged their weapons at the suspected attacker.

Emergency services confirmed that the alleged perpetrator was shot dead at the scene.

Four individuals sustained injuries from both the vehicle impact and knife wounds during the assault on Middleton Road.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed horror at the timing of the attack, noting that its occurrence during Yom Kippur made it particularly abhorrent.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham confirmed that whilst the immediate threat had been neutralised, he advised residents to avoid the vicinity as emergency services continued their response.

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