Derbyshire councillor raised concerns for Jewish communities days before Manchester synagogue attack
A NE Derbyshire District Councillor raised concerns for Jewish communities at a meeting just two weeks before a ‘terrorist incident’ at a synagogue in Manchester where two people lost their lives and three were injured.
Cllr Stuart Fawcett, ward member for Eckington South and Renishaw, called upon the Labour-controlled district council during a recent council meeting to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring the district is a safe and welcoming place and that the council recognises antisemitism is rising in Britain.
He stated: “Through its role in the Community Safety Partnership, covering a county with over 1,000 Jewish residents, this council is well placed to embed antisemitism awareness into safety and cohesion strategies.”
Labour Party Cllr Fawcett raised his concerns at the meeting on September 22 just two weeks before the horrific ‘terrorist incident’ at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, in Crumpsall, on October 2, during worship to mark Yom Kippur which resulted in the deaths of two members of the Jewish community with three others left in a serious condition.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the suspect during the ‘terrorist incident’ had been wearing a suspected explosive device which was ‘not viable’ when he allegedly drove a car at crowds before allegedly stabbing a number of people and before he was shot dead by police.
NE Derbyshire District Cllr Fawcett had previously raised concerns for Jewish communities on September 22 – just before the Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year celebrations – by referring to 4,103 antisemitic incidents in 2023 recorded by The Community Security Trust which he said is the highest annual total on record with further escalations this year.
He said that incidents have been reported locally, including antisemitic graffiti and intimidation in Chesterfield, which he added proves this hatred is not confined to large cities and he reminded the council of the terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Cllr Fawcett added that antisemitism should be confronted wherever it arises and he told the meeting that everyone including British Jews should be considered so they can live safely.
Council Leader Nigel Barker told the recent council meeting: “I have done some reflecting myself including asking if we as a council are doing enough to protect anyone and everyone from hate crime.”
He added: “Hate crime in all its manifestations is evil and anyone engaging in it must be called out and face the consequences of the law.”
Cllr Barker also reflected upon ‘deeply worrying undertones’ in social media posts saying that even if they are not racist it sometimes looks like ‘we are going backwards’.
He stressed there should not just be a stand against antisemitism but against all hate crime and that the council supports all victims of hate crime.
Cllr Barker also told the meeting: “I do not want to detract from antisemitism but I want to make sure it is clear we support all communities.”
Following a motion submitted by Cllr Fawcett, the council voted unanimously to request the council’s Community Safety Partnership to embed antisemitism awareness in policing and safety strategies with regular monitoring and reviews by the Communities Scrutiny Committee while supporting residents not just from antisemitism but from all forms of hate crime.
It also agreed to reaffirm warm wishes for Jewish residents and communities in Derbyshire and to reaffirm its adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and to endorse its use as a framework for recognising and addressing prejudice, and that it rejects antisemitism in all its forms and it will work with the Jewish community and Community Security Trust to prevent and respond to incidents.
Independent Cllr David Hancock told the council meeting one person’s right to live without hate is as important as anyone’s.
He added: “We will not turn a blind eye to hate and we will not allow prejudice to fester.”
Conservative Cllr Alex Dale said it is absolutely right to recognise antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and hate crime and to recognise that prejudice of any sort has ‘absolutely no place in our society’.
Fellow Conservative Cllr Martin Thacker told the meeting the council should be thinking about how it can promote inclusion and respect for each other.
Green Party Cllr Frank Adlington-Stringer said it was important to stand with all communities and it was great to see the council coming together to make sure it stands firm against intolerance for all those facing discrimination. Cllr Fawcett told the meeting: “Jews have been moved on and forced out and have had problems declared upon them wherever they have lived. It’s important to say they will be welcome in Derbyshire always.”
The suspect in the Manchester synagogue attack has been identified by Greater Manchester Police as a 35-year-old British man of Syrian descent called Jihad Al-Shamie.
Greater Manchester Police has also confirmed three suspects are currently in custody and have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. They are two men aged in their 30s and a woman aged in her 60s.
During a recent update, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, said: “It is currently believed that the suspect, Jihad Al Shamie, was not in possession of a firearm and the only shots fired were from GMP’s Authorised Firearms Officers as they worked to prevent the offender from entering the synagogue and causing further harm to our Jewish community.
“It follows therefore, that subject to further forensic examination, this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.
“We have also been advised by medical professionals that one of the three victims currently receiving treatment in hospital, has also suffered a gunshot wound, which is mercifully not life threatening. It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with all of the families, and the wider community, impacted by this incident across Greater Manchester and beyond. Specialist officers are providing support and care for all of those directly affected, including our brave first responders.”