Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, has issued the following statement regarding the attack on a synagogue in Manchester, United Kingdom:
"I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. It strikes at the heart of the Jewish community on Yom Kippur, and it will be felt far beyond Manchester across Britain and Europe. But ultimately, it is an attack on us all and on the values of tolerance and respect that bind our societies together.
"Political violence and hate crimes are rising across our continent. We must be clear: they have no place in Europe. We must redouble our efforts to strengthen our democracies so that differences are resolved not with violence, but through dialogue and the building of trust.
"I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, they will be in my thoughts and those of everyone at the Council of Europe, and to wish the injured in the attack a speedy recovery. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the British public are also in my thoughts at this difficult time."
