Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy Faces Angry Audience at Vigil for Synagogue Attack Casualties

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

The former foreign secretary was criticized by certain in the audience of permitting antisemitism to rise during the current administration in power.

The Justice Secretary, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, was further criticized for the government's decision to acknowledge a Palestinian state as a sovereign entity by people who had gathered to express solidarity with those affected at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in the local area on the previous day.

Confrontation at the Vigil

Mr Lammy faced calls of "go to Palestine, leave us alone", seemingly in response to the administration's policy to recognize a Palestinian state.

Ahead of the official's address, one attendee could be heard to shout: "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 continued.

Another could be heard to shout "Empty words. We want action."

As the Justice Secretary started addressing with the word "friends", there were scoffs and laughter from certain in the crowd.

Lammy's Response

The Justice Secretary told the crowd: "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 continued.

"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 vigil crowd as Mr Lammy said "that is why we stand in defiance of those terrorists who seek to divide us."

There were shouts from attendees, and one man could be heard saying "you enabled it, every Saturday", in reference to the regular pro-Palestine marches through urban centers.

The Deputy Prime Minister persisted: "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 urging those who are planning demonstrations over the coming days to "reflect with all human dignity, grace and understanding" and to "stop and stand back."

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

Attendees Voice Concerns

Joanne Lazarus, 61, from Whitefield, Bury, shouted "shame on you" and "you're embarrassing" at the official as he addressed at the vigil.

She expressed desire for the government to stop weekly demonstrations.

She explained to 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."

The attendee, who was familiar with the synagogue when she was in her youth, said she did not think Mr Lammy would "care" about the response he encountered at the memorial.

Incident Information

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

The first victim, 66, is understood to have been stabbed to death by the assailant while 53-year-old Mr Daulby is believed to be hit by a bullet fired by police as they attempted to shoot the attacker.

Three other people were hurt, including one also believed to have been struck by a police bullet.

The attacker, who is reportedly arrived to the UK as a youth from Syria in the mid-2000s, was shot dead at the scene.

A potential bomb he was wearing was determined to be non-functional, authorities reported.