Boris Johnson has pledged that London will remain a “safe haven” for Jews.

Addressing a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at City Hall, the Mayor said: "In the wake of the horrific attacks in Paris, and as we face an increased threat to our security, it is more important than ever that we stand strong in our beliefs of tolerance and freedom of speech."

He was proud the capital had "long been safe refuge for all those who are persecuted, with many thousands of Holocaust survivors making it their home. London will continue to provide this safe haven."

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned that “the hatred and evil that inspired the Holocaust still exists today, which makes it all the more important to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive”.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Freda Wineman, a French survivor who lost her parents and one of her brothers at Auschwitz, recalled the horrors of the camp at the ceremony.