She Broke Down on Good Morning Britain While Discussing the Manchester Synagogue Attack — And the Studio Fell Silent
The panel was mid-discussion, the tone was measured — until Salma Shah’s voice cracked on live TV. And as the tears came, the show didn’t just pause. It revealed what fear sounds like when it’s no longer theoretical
Good Morning Britain‘s Kate Garraway and Adil Ray were left scrambling to console an emotional guest who broke down in tears discussing the horrifying Manchester attack on a synagogue.
Emotions were running high as the presenter were joined by a panel of guests to discuss the latest news stories, including the attack that happened on Thursday.
Armed police shot the knifeman outside Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue following a ‘marauding terror attack’ which took place on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.
On Friday morning, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were named as victims of the attack, which also saw three others taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Kate, 58, and Adil, 51, were joined by Jewish MP Luciana Berger, alongside political editor Ava Evans and political commentator Salma Shah.
During the segment, Luciana, 44, opened up about the fear that is widespread throughout the Jewish community, who worried antisemitism would be ‘amplified’ in the wake of the events.
Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway and Adil Ray were left scrambling to console emotional guest Salma Shah as she broke down in tears
The political commentator broke down as she opened up on her thoughts and feelings about the attack at the Manchester synagogue on Thursday
She said: ‘It is a genuine fear of people in this country on whether they have a safe place to live and I really wish that wasn’t the case.
‘It existed before today and I know it will be amplified in the wake of these horrific events and people being murdered in this country.
‘This was an attack on British Jews, yes, we’re Jewish, but I’m very proud to be British; this is an attack on Britain.
‘We do have a responsibility to all minorities in this country.’
Becoming visibly upset by Luciana’s words, Salma broke down in tears and began wiping her eyes as she replied: ‘I feel so upset about this entire sentiment.’
After apologising for her showing her emotions, Salma continued: ‘Luciana is a Parliamentarian, of course she’s British, of course she belongs here. I’m so sorry.’
Salma had be to reassured by Kate and Adil that she was allowed to show some emotion, and gave her a moment to compose herself.
Looking glassy-eyed, Kate said: ‘I think that’s how we all feel, we don’t want to be feeling this for any community this morning. Your emotions say it all, Salma.’
Kate, 58, and Adil, 51, were joined by Jewish MP Luciana Berger, alongside political editor Ava Evans and political commentator Salma Shah
Salma had be to reassured by Kate and Adil that she was allowed to show some emotion, and gave her a moment to compose herself
Salma was seen reaching out for MP Luciana’s hand as the pair consoled eachother.
Instead turning their attentions to Ava, Kate asked if the political editor had any message for viewers who were watching from home.
‘There shouldn’t be any place for extremism in Britain, it is heartbreaking,’ she said.
Luciana added: ‘It’s not just about extremism, because extremism is the worst exposition of what discrimination can become.
‘Actually, even low levels of discrimination and racism have an impact.’
On Thursday, suspect Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, went on a six-minute stabbing spree leaving two dead and four seriously injured after crashing his car into the synagogue.
Hero rabbi Daniel Walker barricaded worshippers inside the building after the suspect crashed into the gate and began stabbing ‘anyone and everyone’.
One witness described him moving from victim to victim in a ‘robotic’ manner ‘like he had a job to do’ – targeting ‘anyone’ wearing a Kippur.
Salma was seen reaching out for MP Luciana’s hand after getting emotional
Salma admitted she ‘felt so upset about the entire sentiment’ of the attack
The attacker, who was wearing a vest which looked like an explosive device, then tried to force his way inside before being shot dead by armed police at 9.38am.
Greater Manchester Police said two members of the Jewish community died and four other people remain in hospital in a serious condition following the attack – and confirmed a bomb disposal unit was sent to the synagogue.
At 12.45pm a small bang could be heard from near the synagogue, suspected to be a controlled explosion.
A senior security source, who for decades worked in armed policing, told the Daily Mail that the man’s suicide belt ‘looked real’.
Greater Manchester Police said it had ‘declared Plato’ – the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a ‘marauding terror attack’.
The Prime Minister addressed the nation following the attack.
Speaking from Downing Street after rushing back to Britain from a summit in Denmark he lamented that Jews in the UK need round-the-clock protection outside buildings including schools.
‘Today’s horrific incident shows why. And while this is not a new hate, this is something Jews have always lived with, we must be clear, it is a hatred that is rising once again, and Britain must defeat it once again,’ he said.
The panellists shared their thoughts after the attack took place on Thursday on Yom Kippur
Manchester has a Jewish population of more than 30,000, the highest in the UK after London.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described the incident as a ‘vile and disgusting attack’ and called for the ‘rise in antisemitism that we’re seeing in our country’ to be ‘quelled completely’.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: ‘I am appalled not only by this brutal attack, but also by the evil that lies behind it.’
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was ‘horrified’.
Rabbi Jonathan Romain, emeritus rabbi of Maidenhead Synagogue and current head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain, said he felt ‘appalled’ by what had happened’.
‘This is every Rabbi’s or every Jewish person’s worst nightmare,’ he said.
‘Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but it’s also a time of mass gathering, and the time when the Jewish community, however religious or irreligious, gathers together.’
He added: ‘This will obviously heighten the fears that many Jews have had, that political violence would spill over into religious hatred.’