UK Events Honor Bondi Victims as Police Boost Jewish Security
Vigils across the UK honor victims of the Bondi Hanukkah attack as police boost security for Jewish communities amid fears over antisemitic violence.
Victims of a mass shooting at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach in Australia were remembered at events across the UK.
Police in England and Scotland said they were increasing their presence among Jewish communities as religious festival celebrations got underway.
Authorities said fifteen people, including a child, were killed in the Bondi shooting, an attack that targeted members of the Jewish community.
On Sunday evening, a crowd of around 100 people gathered outside the Australian High Commission in central London for a vigil.
People were seen waving British and Israeli flags, while some held placards that read "Stop the Hate."
Speaking at the vigil, Rabbi Yisroel Lew of Marylebone lit a menorah and said: "The first thought after hearing what happened this morning was – how can we bring more light?
"Don't be afraid and celebrate Hanukkah."
A short distance away in Trafalgar Square, a large menorah was lit to mark the first day of the festival.
Hundreds of people also attended Hanukkah events with music and dancing in north-west London on Sunday – where there was also an increased police presence.
Among those at one of the events was Chani Simon, who went to school with Rabbi Eli Schlanger, one of the victims of the Sydney shooting. She described the 41-year-old victim as "a father in the prime of his life."
"But we are moving forward to make the world a bigger and better place, doing acts of goodness, acts of light, because that's what the world needs.
"It's terrible but we won't let terrorism stop us."
"I'm saddened that in this day and age Jewish people have to be afraid," she added. "Even after the Holocaust, Jews are still being murdered." Rabbi Eli, a father of five who was born in London, was described by his cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, as a "caring, vibrant, energetic, and sociable person who loved people." Speaking to the BBC earlier in the day, he said that people should "spread light" by doing charitable work in Rabbi Schlanger's name: "I know how he would react and this is something he said recently.
"Every person on earth has a positive way to contribute to making the world a better place, and we just need to keep spreading light.
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"The world is a positive place and we need to show that, and I know that's what Eli would be saying too."
Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, lit a menorah in the window of Number 10.
Lady Starmer is Jewish, and Sir Keir has previously said that they often celebrate the start of Shabbat on Friday evenings. In a social media post, the Prime Minister said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those killed in today’s terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, their loved ones and the entire Jewish community.
“Light will always triumph over darkness.”
Earlier, the UK’s Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) urged police and the government to protect Hanukkah events – which began on Sunday evening and run for eight days – and said: “We must not allow hatred to extinguish the festival of light.”
In a statement, the JLC said it was “saddened and angered that in Sydney, Jews have once again been targeted simply for being Jewish”.
“We know that such hatred exists in this country too, as we are still reeling from the attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur.”
Two people were killed in that attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue on the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar.
Sir Keir Starmer described the Bondi attack as “abhorrent” and said the government was working with the Community Security Trust (CST), a Jewish security organization, on policing Hanukkah events in the UK.
Police Scotland said it was carrying out extra patrols around synagogues and other Jewish sites and was “actively engaging with religious leaders”.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the Metropolitan Police would be increasing its presence in Jewish communities ahead of Hanukkah events.
The police force said: “At a time when London’s Jewish community is coming together to begin the celebration of Hanukkah, we know this attack will not only cause terrible distress but also raise significant concerns about safety.”
It added that there was “no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London”.
King Charles said he was “shocked and appalled” by the “appalling antisemitic terrorist attack” at the Bondi Hanukkah celebration. They are "deeply saddened," and their and Queen Camilla's "hearts go out to all those who have been so terribly affected."
He added that the lights of the Jewish festival "will always prevail over the darkness of such evil."
The Prince and Princess of Wales also issued a statement, saying their "thoughts are with every Australian today," and that they "stand with the Jewish community."
The Prince and Princess of Wales also issued a statement saying their "thoughts are with all Australians today," and that they "stand with the Jewish community at this time of sorrow."
Meanwhile, the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom said the Jewish community would "stand strong again."
Sir Ephraim Mirvis said in a statement on X: "As we light the first candle of Hanukkah this evening, we hold the victims of this horrific attack in Sydney in our hearts and prayers."
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he would be attending a Hanukkah event that "should have been a celebration, but instead our community is once again in mourning."
"I will be thinking of all those in Australia and those in the Jewish community around the world who know this fear and loss. We stand with you."
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it had offered its support to its Australian partners and was in contact with the government to discuss the UK's response.
It added: "The evils of terrorism and antisemitism are shared, international challenges and require concerted and determined action to defeat them."
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper advised any British nationals affected by the shooting to contact the embassy in Sydney for support.
Tributes were paid to the Bondi victims at events across the UK, and police increased security for Jewish communities.
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