‘We must not let hatred defeat us’: British Jews on their fears, hopes and sad sense that an attack was inevitable

A community vigil outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congragational synagogue in Manchester. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

In the 24 hours after the Manchester synagogue attack, emotions ran high on the streets – and there was little confidence in national politicians’ ability to calm the mood.

“Maybe I’m paranoid, but I do worry that unless there’s something done, whether it’s going to be another attack on the Jewish community, whether it’s going to be kind of a response from the far right against the Muslim community, whatever it’s going to be, I worry that more and more we’re getting rising extremism and there isn’t anything being done to deal with it other than thoughts and prayers being given from the government,” Xander, 23, said.