Byers to visit synagogue desecrated by racists

MPs tabled a motion yesterday condemning the desecration of a London synagogue as ministers prepared to visit the site of the attack.

Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State for Transport, will visit the Finsbury Park synagogue today with the Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks. Mr Byers' department is in charge of community relations and he said he wanted to show worshippers at the synagogue that they "do not stand alone".

The synagogue was ransacked on Saturday night by vandals who painted a swastika on the rabbi's lectern, ruined sacred scrolls and threw prayer shawls on the ground.

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour MP for Islington North, whose constituency includes Finsbury Park, put down an Early Day Motion motion saying MPs were "appalled". The motion said Parliament "expressed its sympathy to the members, condemns any attacks on places of worship of any religion, and calls for respect and tolerance of all faiths".