Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis led the British community's response to the terror attack at the Pulse nightclub.

Expressing condemnation of the murders and solidarity with the victims, Chief Rabbi Mirvis said: "At a time of such anguish, it is difficult to adequately convey the depths of our moral revulsion for an individual who was so motivated by hatred that it led him to mass murder.

"As Jews, we join with all of those across the world who stand defiant and united in declaring that there is absolutely no place for hatred or intolerance in our societies.

"We must also be honest enough to recognise that there are places where the scourge of homophobia persists, even in our own communities, and that is totally unacceptable."

He added that it was the responsibility of faith leaders to act where "that hate is religiously motivated".

Rabbi Mirvis said: "Unambiguous condemnation of terror attacks such as this is an important place to start, but it alone is not sufficient. In the face of such unspeakable violence, we must be introspective.

"After Orlando, we must take a step beyond condemnation and open our hearts and our synagogues so that no Jew feels persecuted or excluded from our communities."