UK's Top Security Official Labels Pro-Palestine Demonstrations Following Manchester Attack as 'Un-British'

The home secretary has asserted that the move by Palestinian supporters to go ahead with rallies urging an cessation to the conflict in Gaza following the recent lethal assault at a Jewish place of worship in Manchester was "deeply against British values".

Shabana Mahmood further added she would urge anyone thinking about attending similar protests to pause and reflect how they would react if a family member was killed on the most important religious day of their belief system.

When more particulars came to light about the assailant, recognized by authorities as Jihad al-Shamie, the home secretary stated he was not familiar to terror prevention authorities and had not been referred to the government's Prevent initiative.

Local authorities stated that a 53-year-old man and Melvin Cravitz, 66 were killed after the perpetrator drove into a gathering of persons outside a local synagogue before stabbing another individual. Three people continued to be in treatment while additional individuals arrested by police remained in custody.

The security minister used a series of media interviews to declare that Britain had witnessed a "rising tide of antisemitism", emphasizing that the administration would "not accept that" as she attempted to comfort the Jewish community in the UK.

Security arrangements would be assessed, she stated.

In response to questions about what various observers had described as a environment of concern that the Jewish community have faced, particularly since Hamas's 7 October attacks in 2023 and the start of the war in Gaza, she stated there was "certainly great concern about events in the region but our primary concern is making sure our residents here at home are safe".

Speaking about Palestinian-supporting protests that proceeded on Thursday, she added, "It was deeply regrettable to see those demonstrations going ahead last night. I think that action is fundamentally against British values. I think it is inappropriate. I would have preferred those participants to just take a pause."

"The issues that are inspiring those rallies have been persisting for a period. They seem unlikely they are going to finish any time soon. They could have allowed a population that has been through trauma just a short period to deal with what has happened," stated Mahmood.

"For anyone who is thinking about going on a protest what I would say is consider that is you who has had a loved one killed on the most important religious day of your faith," she stated.

"There will be time for your demonstration later. Just because you have the right to protest doesn't mean you need to use it," said the home secretary.

"I continue to urge people to show some compassion and some support to the loved ones of those who have been killed and to our Jewish community."

She revealed that about 40 people had been arrested at Thursday's gatherings including some on suspicion of assaulting police.

The attention has now turned to the capital, where coordinators of protests demanding a restriction on an organization to be ended have declared they aim to go ahead with a organized gathering on the weekend.