'Our worst nightmare' - rabbis react to attack

Rabbis have been speaking to the BBC in response to the Manchester attack

Rabbis in the south of England have been sharing their concerns after an attack at a synagogue in Manchester was described as "our worst nightmare come true".

Two men were killed in the attack at Heaton Park synagogue where worshippers gathered on Yom Kippur, while three others are in hospital with serious injuries.

Rabbi Maurice Michaels from Bournemouth Reform Synagogue said: "You always hope it's never going to happen, but there's been a negative attitude to Jews in this country over the past few years.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: "Our officers will be conducting additional patrols... around synagogues, and other places of worship, to reassure all communities in our area."

Bournemouth has a large Jewish community and speaking on BBC Radio Solent Rabbi Michaels told listeners they were "still in shock".

He was at a congregation in Southampton when he heard about the attack and said people there "accept this is part and parcel about the problem of being Jewish in the UK today".

"We are under attack, there is no getting away from that."

Following the incident in Manchester, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that "additional police assets" would be deployed at synagogues across the country.

Rabbi Alan Lewis said people worshipping there still felt the synagogue "was the right place to be"

At another synagogue in Bournemouth, Rabbi Alan Lewis said he'd just finished the morning service at Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation when he heard the news.

"Everybody felt that this was the right place to be... we did continue but at the forefront of our minds was the tragedy that was unfolding in Manchester," he said.

Dr Jonathan Romain, who is a former rabbi from Maidenhead synagogue, told BBC Radio Berkshire police and armed units arrived at the synagogue shortly after the news broke.

"Unfortunately security is part of everyday synagogue life," he said.

"What happened yesterday was our worst nightmare come true, we always thought it was a possibility but hoped it would never come to that."

Louise Gordon said members of the Jewish community in Oxford feel "shocked and devastated"

In Oxfordshire, Louise Gordon who is the Vice President of the Oxford Jewish Congregation said 300-400 people were worshipping Yom Kippur when they heard the news.

She said there was "shock and devastation", but that they weren't surprised.

"I think we were always on edge expecting something was going to happen.

"There is also an instinct when you feel attacked... to feel that you are threatened by anybody outside and that's why it's so important to get messages of support, as we have done when other communities when have had incidents."

Ch Supt Julie Howe, of Dorset Police, said: "We have contacted our Jewish communities and while there is no information to suggest any increased threat in Dorset, officers are carrying out increased patrols."

Police in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight say they understand the incident will have shocked everyone and they are speaking to Jewish communities to ensure they have a point of contact to raise any concerns.

Greater Manchester Police say they believe the attacker, who was shot dead at the scene after he drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people, is 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie.

He was a British citizen of Syrian descent who was not previously known to counter terrorism police, the home secretary told the BBC.

The two men killed in the attack in Manchester have been named by police as Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66.

One of the victims killed in yesterday's synagogue attack was hit by police gunfire as they shot the attacker, police said.