A group of survivors and bereaved relatives from 19 different terror attacks has issued an open letter expressing solidarity with the Jewish community in the United Kingdom. The letter, coordinated by the organization Survivors Against Terror (SAT), comes in the wake of a series of attacks targeting Jewish individuals in London.
Recent Attacks Prompt Response
Earlier this week, two Jewish men were victims of terror attacks in north London. Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with the attempted murders of Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, in Golders Green, as well as Ishmail Hussein in Southwark on the same day. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of hostility against the Jewish community in the UK.
In response to the heightened threat, the UK government raised the terror threat level from "substantial" to "severe" for the first time in over four years. This change was driven by an increase in both Islamist and extreme right-wing threats.
Letter's Message
The letter states: "As victims and survivors of terror attacks, we know the devastating cost of hatred and extremism. These acts have changed our lives forever and taken people we loved." It expresses deep concern over the rise in hostility and attacks against the Jewish community and calls for unity against such hatred.
The signatories urge: "Those who justify those antisemitic attacks as being a result of Israel’s actions are not simply wrong, but create an environment where more attacks are more likely. Please stop. Similarly, those who blame all Muslims for the actions of the terrorist create the kind of division and hatred that terrorists crave."
They emphasize that "standing together in the face of hatred is not just the right thing to do – it’s the most effective way of defeating terrorism in all its forms." The letter concludes with a plea for renewed commitment to protecting the safety and dignity of all communities, including Jewish citizens.
Voices of Survivors
Brendan Cox, whose wife MP Jo Cox was killed by a right-wing extremist in 2016, co-founded SAT. He said: "Last week’s antisemitic attacks would have been bad enough had they been an isolated aberration. But they weren’t. They followed a spate of vile attacks on the British Jewish community – designed to spread fear." Cox called for the country to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Jewish friends and neighbors, without equivocation.
Jo Berry, co-founder of SAT and whose father died in the IRA Brighton hotel bombing in 1984, said: "I am signing this because I have seen the lasting impact of hatred and violence, and I believe we share a responsibility to stand together and protect one another." She expressed confidence that hatred will not prevail.
The letter has 62 signatories, including Sheelagh Alexander (whose son Nick died in the Bataclan attack), Figen Murray (mother of Manchester Arena victim Martyn Hett), and Kevin Tipple (survivor of the 2017 Westminster attack). Others include Marine Vincent (survivor of the 2017 London Bridge attack), Christian Fisher (survivor of the 7/7 bombings), and Nader Mozakka (whose wife Behnaz died in the 7/7 attack).
Lisa Ghiggini, a survivor of the Fishmongers’ Hall attack, said: "Having lived through a terror attack, I know first-hand the devastation hatred leaves behind. No community should have to carry that fear. Standing together against all forms of division is the only way we prevent it from spreading."
