Mosque apologises to Rabbi Tory general election candidate over 'anti-Semitic' comments

A mosque says it has apologised to a Tory general election candidate 'for how he was treated' after video footage emerged of a man shouting at him outside.

Jewish leaders have condemned what they called 'unquestionably anti-Semitic' comments directed in the clip at Rabbi Arnold Saunders, the Conservative Party candidate for Bury South who was invited to the Masjid Bilal Islamic Centre in Prestwich by mosque elders to speak to its members. The footage shows Rabbi Saunders, who uses a walking aid, being harangued and called a 'snake'.

The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region (JRCGM) issued a statement saying it 'expects action to be taken'. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, meanwhile, said it was 'disgusted' by what it called his 'abusive treatment'. The footage, they added, 'clearly shows' that he 'was being targeted in this fashion due to his religion'.

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The mosque said in a statement today that Rabbi Saunders, a councillor in Salford, was a guest at a meet-and-greet event, but admitted he 'was treated inappropriately and disrespectfully'.

"The event was well received and the Rabbi was welcomed, and most people present engaged positively with the Rabbi," said the mosque.

"Unfortunately one or two individuals questioned the Rabbi in a hostile manner and this clip has been widely circulated. This clip was recorded by one of the individuals himself.

"The Rabbi was a guest of the mosque, and he was treated inappropriately and disrespectfully. Any genuine political questions should have been raised respectfully. We regret what has happened, we have already apologised to the