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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/03/home-secretary-shabana-mahmood-says-pro-palestine-protests-in-wake-of-manchester-attack-are-un-british
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| Home secretary calls Gaza protests in wake of Manchester attack ‘un-British’ | Home secretary calls Gaza protests in wake of Manchester attack ‘un-British’ |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Shabana Mahmood urges demonstrators to ‘show some love’ and call off planned protests after deadly attack | Shabana Mahmood urges demonstrators to ‘show some love’ and call off planned protests after deadly attack |
| Protests calling for an end to the war in Gaza after Thursday’s deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester were “fundamentally un-British”, the home secretary said as she called for other demonstrations this weekend to be called off. | Protests calling for an end to the war in Gaza after Thursday’s deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester were “fundamentally un-British”, the home secretary said as she called for other demonstrations this weekend to be called off. |
| Shabana Mahmood also said she would appeal to anyone thinking of going to one to pause and think how they would feel if a loved one was murdered on the holiest day of the year in their faith. | Shabana Mahmood also said she would appeal to anyone thinking of going to one to pause and think how they would feel if a loved one was murdered on the holiest day of the year in their faith. |
| Mahmood was speaking as more details emerged about the attacker, whom police had named as Jihad al-Shamie. She said he was not known to counter-terrorism police and had not been referred to the the British government’s Prevent de-radicalisation programme. | Mahmood was speaking as more details emerged about the attacker, whom police had named as Jihad al-Shamie. She said he was not known to counter-terrorism police and had not been referred to the the British government’s Prevent de-radicalisation programme. |
| Greater Manchester police said Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died after Shamie drove into a group of people outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue before stabbing a man. Three people remained in hospital while three other people who were arrested by the police remained in custody. | Greater Manchester police said Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died after Shamie drove into a group of people outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue before stabbing a man. Three people remained in hospital while three other people who were arrested by the police remained in custody. |
| Mahmood used a morning broadcast round to say that Britain had seen a “rising ride of antisemitism”, adding that the government would “not stand for that” as she sought to reassure the Jewish community in the UK. Security arrangements would be reviewed, she said. | Mahmood used a morning broadcast round to say that Britain had seen a “rising ride of antisemitism”, adding that the government would “not stand for that” as she sought to reassure the Jewish community in the UK. Security arrangements would be reviewed, she said. |
| Asked about what others had described as a climate of fear that Jewish people in Britain have faced, particularly since Hamas’s 7 October attacks in 2023 and the start of the war in Gaza, she said there was “undoubtedly great concern about events in the Middle East but our priority is making sure our citizens here at home are safe”. | Asked about what others had described as a climate of fear that Jewish people in Britain have faced, particularly since Hamas’s 7 October attacks in 2023 and the start of the war in Gaza, she said there was “undoubtedly great concern about events in the Middle East but our priority is making sure our citizens here at home are safe”. |
| Speaking about pro-Palestinian protests that went ahead on Thursday, she added, however: “I was very disappointed to see those protests going ahead last night. I think that behaviour is is fundamentally un-British. I think it is dishonourable. I would have wanted those individuals to just take a step back.” | Speaking about pro-Palestinian protests that went ahead on Thursday, she added, however: “I was very disappointed to see those protests going ahead last night. I think that behaviour is is fundamentally un-British. I think it is dishonourable. I would have wanted those individuals to just take a step back.” |
| “The issues that are driving those protests have been going on for some time. They don’t look like they are going to come to an end any time soon. They could have given a community that has suffered just a day or two to process what has happened,” added Mahmood, who said that authorities “will make sure” that other protests in the future could go ahead. | “The issues that are driving those protests have been going on for some time. They don’t look like they are going to come to an end any time soon. They could have given a community that has suffered just a day or two to process what has happened,” added Mahmood, who said that authorities “will make sure” that other protests in the future could go ahead. |
| “To anybody who is thinking about going on a protest what I would say is imagine that is you who has had a family member murdered on the holiest day of your faith,” she added. | “To anybody who is thinking about going on a protest what I would say is imagine that is you who has had a family member murdered on the holiest day of your faith,” she added. |
| “We can get back to your protest later. Just because you have the freedom to protest doesn’t mean you have to use it,” said Mahmood, who also used an interview on GB News to reiterate the same call. | “We can get back to your protest later. Just because you have the freedom to protest doesn’t mean you have to use it,” said Mahmood, who also used an interview on GB News to reiterate the same call. |
| “I would still call on people to show some love and some solidarity to the families of those who have been murdered and to our Jewish community.” | “I would still call on people to show some love and some solidarity to the families of those who have been murdered and to our Jewish community.” |
| She said about 40 people had been arrested at Thursday’s protests including some on suspicion of assaulting police. | She said about 40 people had been arrested at Thursday’s protests including some on suspicion of assaulting police. |
| The focus has shifted to London, where the organisers of protests calling for a ban on Palestine Action to be lifted have said they intend to go ahead with a planned action on Saturday and urged the police to concentrate on protecting those communities fearing reprisals or follow-up terrorist attacks. | The focus has shifted to London, where the organisers of protests calling for a ban on Palestine Action to be lifted have said they intend to go ahead with a planned action on Saturday and urged the police to concentrate on protecting those communities fearing reprisals or follow-up terrorist attacks. |
| “We urge you to choose to prioritise protecting the community rather than arresting those peacefully holding signs in opposition to the absurd and draconian ban of a domestic direct action group,” Defend Our Juries told the Metropolitan police in a letter of reply after the force had called on it to postpone the protests. | “We urge you to choose to prioritise protecting the community rather than arresting those peacefully holding signs in opposition to the absurd and draconian ban of a domestic direct action group,” Defend Our Juries told the Metropolitan police in a letter of reply after the force had called on it to postpone the protests. |