Andy Burnham sends message to British Jews on anniversary of devastating October 7 attacks
Andy Burnham has told British Jews "we stand with you" against "vile hatred" on the anniversary of the horrifying October 7 attacks.
At least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the 2023 attacks, while 251 people were taken captive to Gaza, after thousands of Hamas militants broke across the border, launching a wave of attacks on communities.
"Three years on from the October 7 attacks on Israel, we remember those who were senselessly killed by Hamas terrorists," the Prime Minister said.
"The impact of the attacks has been felt not just in Israel, but in Jewish communities across the world who still bear the burden of the tragic events that day."
Mr Burnham noted a "disturbing rise in antisemitic behaviour in the UK" since 2023, citing the Heaton Park Synagogue attack on Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy day, last year.
The synagogue was subject to a terror attack on October 2, 2025, when Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove his car into the gates and began attacking worshippers with a knife.
Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed during the attack. Al-Shamie was shot dead by police.
Two Iranian men appeared in court last week, charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, with prosecutors claiming they had conducted "hostile reconnaissance" at the same synagogue.
They are accused of preparing acts of terrorism using a homemade explosive device on the Jewish community in Manchester.
According to the Community Security Trust, the number of antisemitic incidents reported between January and June 2026 is up by a fifth on the same period last year.
Mr Burnham continued: "I want Britain’s Jewish community to hear this from me directly: We stand with you. Abuse and violence against you, in any form, will not be tolerated. Not on our streets, not online, not in our schools or universities.
"That’s why we are funding protection for synagogues, schools and community buildings, and why we will come down hard on antisemitism wherever it is found - in classrooms, on campuses and in neighbourhoods.
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"At home, we are committed to protecting our citizens from vile hatred. Abroad, we continue to work towards a two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and security.
"An attack on Jewish people in Britain is an attack on all of us.
"Antisemitism has no place in this country, and we will do everything we can to stamp it out."
His comments come as the police confirmed a planned pro-Palestine march scheduled to take place tomorrow, on the anniversary of the October 7 massacre, will go ahead.
Attendees are expected to march from the King’s College London area in the Strand to University College London in Russell Square, Holborn.
Despite calls to ban the protests, DAC Harman said the police can "only ask the Home Secretary to do so if the risk of serious disorder is so high that it can’t be managed by conditions."
"That high bar is not met here," he added.
Demonstrators must assemble in a designated area of Lincoln’s Inn Fields by 12.30pm, before following a strict route to Russell Square.
The rally must conclude by 2pm, when participants will be required to disperse.
More than 600 officers will be deployed across London over the coming week, with around half a dozen protests planned.
Rona Epstein told GB News that she felt "betrayed" seeing the marches, after losing her brother in the attacks.
Speaking to the People’s Channel from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, around two miles from the Gaza border, where Hamas terrorists massacred dozens of Israelis during the attack, Ms Epstein said: "(These are) supposedly people that share the same values as me, of human rights, of peace, are saying to support this organisation and flipping against me."
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