We are deeply saddened to see extremists using the grief of the murders of three young children in Southport to stoke hate and division.

The memories of those who died – Bebe King, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Elsie Dot Stancombe – and the deep loss and the pain of their families, must be honoured and respected. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

At this time, we must also support and stand together in solidarity with each other as communities and a country. Our ability to thrive in our diversity is inextricably linked.

We must never back down in our long-standing fight against Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-immigrant prejudice and the far right’s attempts to split us.

Progressive Judaism’s belief in supporting each other, and our relationships with our Muslim friends and neighbours, stretch back decades. Just as we have stood together in good times and joy, now we stand together in times of crisis and against the threat of extremists.

Any other response – especially attacks on those who had nothing to do with this awful crime – is to fail in our duty to those children and their loved ones.

* Statement from Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism.

(First published on 31 July 2024 and updated on 9 August 2024)