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Justice Secretary David Lammy was met with boos and chants of "shame on you" as he appeared at a vigil for victims of the Manchester synagogue attack.

The former foreign secretary was accused by some in the crowd of permitting antisemitism to increase during the current administration in government.

Lammy, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, was also condemned for the administration's move to acknowledge a Palestinian state as a state by individuals who had come to show solidarity with those affected at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in the local area on the previous day.

Confrontation at the Memorial Service

The Deputy Prime Minister heard shouts of "go to Palestine, leave us alone", apparently in reaction to the government's decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

Before the official's address, one attendee could be overheard yelling: "My children's school was closed today. You have allowed this to happen."

"You are all guilty. You have allowed Jew hatred in Manchester, on the streets. You are all guilty. We do not want you speaking here today," the individual continued.

Another could be overheard saying "Empty words. We want action."

As the Justice Secretary began his speech with the word "friends", there were scoffs and laughter from some in the gathering.

Official's Address

The Deputy Prime Minister told the crowd: "We stand in solidarity with the Jewish people, because an attack like this is never felt alone."

"Wherever you are in our country, Jewish people, our friends, our neighbours, our loved ones are terrified by the events of yesterday – of becoming targets, victims of antisemitic hate, simply for who they are," he continued.

"But I know this about Britain's Jewish community, a community I have known all of my life: You are strong, you are resilient, and you will never be cowed, and that's what I want you to know today – that our country, those of all colours, all faiths and none, stand with you."

Protests continued in the vigil crowd as Mr Lammy said "that is why we stand in defiance of those terrorists who seek to divide us."

There were calls from the crowd, and one individual could be overheard stating "you enabled it, every Saturday", in relation to the weekly demonstrations through London and other cities.

The Justice Secretary persisted: "We cannot, must not, let them divide us – we must show them who we really are, not what they want us to become or to believe."

Mr Lammy finished speaking by asking those who are organizing demonstrations over the coming days to "reflect with all human dignity, grace and understanding" and to "stop and stand back."

After he concluded, another person shouted: "They called for our death in the past. Walk past a university some day."

Community Members Speak

Joanne Lazarus, 61, from Whitefield, Bury, shouted "shame on you" and "you're embarrassing" at Mr Lammy as he spoke at the vigil.

She said she wanted the government to halt weekly demonstrations.

She explained to news agencies: "I took the chance to make my voice heard. I can't take these marches every single Saturday."

"I've been into town on a Saturday and have been told I'm a baby killer and to 'go home'," she added.

"That hatred is felt through the whole of the UK and through what happened here yesterday. I knew it would happen."

The attendee, who attended the Heaton Park Shul when she was younger, said she did not think Mr Lammy would "care" about the response he encountered at the vigil.

Attack Details

The memorial had been arranged following the passing of Melvyn Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, who died during the attack.

Mr Cravitz, sixty-six, is understood to have been stabbed to death by the assailant while fifty-three-year-old Mr Daulby is believed to be struck by gunfire discharged by officers as they attempted to shoot the attacker.

Three other people were hurt, including one thought to be struck by a police bullet.

The attacker, who is understood to have come to the United Kingdom as a youth from his home country in 2006, was fatally wounded at the scene.

A potential bomb he was wearing was determined to be non-functional, police said.