Trafalgar Square menorah dismantled due to wind

Trafalgar Square's giant menorah was dismantled due to high winds

High winds over the weekend forced the removal of Trafalgar Square's giant menorah, altering plans for the first night of Hanukkah celebrations, City Hall has said.

The menorah, a longstanding symbol of London's Hanukkah festivities, could not be safely reinstalled in time for Wednesday's event, according to the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and Greater London Authority.

A smaller 12ft (3.7m) tall menorah and a projection of "Happy Hanukkah" on Nelson's Column will instead mark the beginning of the holiday, also called the Festival of Light.

The JLC said it was proud the menorah would stand alongside Trafalgar Square's Christmas tree as "a symbol of London's religious diversity".

This year Hanukkah runs from 25 December until 2 January.

'Powerful symbol'

London mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the holiday amid "difficult times" in the Middle East, while also condemning the rising number of incidents of antisemitism recorded across the capital.

He said: "The story of [Hanukkah] is one of light and hope winning out in the darkest of times and re-dedication to the values we hold dear, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

"I stand with our Jewish communities today and all days to say that antisemitism has absolutely no place in our city."

A JLC spokesperson added the menorah would act as a "powerful symbol of Jewish pride" in response to antisemitism.