🔗 Share this article UK's Top Security Official Labels Pro-Palestine Protests Following Manchester Attack as 'Not British' The home secretary has asserted that the move by pro-Palestinian groups to go ahead with protests urging an cessation to the fighting in Gaza following the recent fatal assault at a synagogue in Manchester was "deeply contrary to British principles". Shabana Mahmood additionally remarked she would ask anyone thinking about attending such events to pause and reflect how they would react if a close relative was killed on the most sacred day of their faith. Incident Information Revealed When more details emerged about the attacker, identified by law enforcement as Jihad al-Shamie, Mahmood confirmed he was not on the radar of terror prevention authorities and had not been referred to the government's Prevent initiative. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Adrian Daulby, 53 and a 66-year-old man were killed after the perpetrator rammed a group of persons outside a local synagogue before assaulting another individual. Several individuals were still in hospital while additional individuals taken into custody by police stayed in confinement. Increasing Surge of Anti-Jewish Sentiment Mahmood used a television appearances to assert that Britain had experienced a "increasing wave of prejudice against Jewish people", emphasizing that the authorities would "not stand for that" as she sought to reassure the British Jews in the UK. Security arrangements would be examined, she announced. Public Worries and Government Response Responding to queries about what others had characterized as a climate of fear that British Jews have faced, especially since last year's Middle East violence in 2023 and the commencement of the conflict in Gaza, she said there was "certainly great concern about events in the Middle East but our main focus is making sure our people here at home are protected". Concern Over Continued Rallies Addressing Palestinian-supporting rallies that continued on that evening, she added, "I was very disappointed to see those gatherings going ahead last night. I think that conduct is fundamentally against British values. I think it is inappropriate. I would have wanted those individuals to just take a step back." "The matters that are driving those rallies have been persisting for a while. They don't look like they are going to finish any time soon. They could have allowed a group that has been through trauma just a brief time to deal with what has happened," stated the home secretary. Request to Protesters "To those who is thinking about going on a rally what I would suggest is reflect on that is you who has had a family member murdered on the holiest day of your beliefs," she added. "We can get back to your rally later. Just because you have the freedom to demonstrate doesn't mean you have to use it," remarked Mahmood. "I would still call on people to show some empathy and some solidarity to the families of those who have been murdered and to our British Jews." Detentions and Upcoming Events She revealed that around 40 people had been taken into custody at Thursday's demonstrations including some on suspicion of attacking law enforcement. The focus has now shifted to the city, where coordinators of demonstrations calling for a restriction on a specific group to be removed have declared they aim to go ahead with a organized gathering on the weekend.