Sadiq Khan says Nova exhibition is ‘humbling’ after long-awaited visit

Sadiq Khan made his long-awaited visit to the Nova Exhibition in East London on Thursday, a week after Jewish News highlighted organisers’ disappointment that he was yet to attend.

The Mayor of London toured the Shoreditch exhibition alongside London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Andrea Simon, viewing the installation that documents the Hamas-led attack on the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023.

Khan said: “It was humbling to visit the powerful and poignant Nova Festival Exhibition.

“The heinous terrorist attack of 7 October turned a peaceful festival into a horrific site of pain and suffering for innocent victims, and this exhibition is a stark demonstration of this terrible day and its long-lasting impact.

“This exhibition has played a vital role in educating more than 600,000 people of all backgrounds around the world about these atrocities, and it is a testament to the incredible fundraising efforts of London’s Jewish community that it has been brought to our capital for an extended stay.”

His visit fell on what would have been the 29th birthday of British-Israeli Jake Marlowe, the London-born musician who was murdered while working as an unarmed security guard at the festival.

Later that afternoon, Jake’s parents, Lisa and Michael Marlowe, spoke at a special event at the exhibition, sharing their son’s story and remembering his life.

Jake had taken the security job to earn extra money before planning to propose to his girlfriend. When Hamas terrorists attacked the festival, he chose to stay behind to help others escape rather than flee himself. He was later shot dead.

Last week, Jewish News revealed organisers’ frustration that, despite repeated invitations since the exhibition opened in May, the mayor had not attended.

Jo Woolfe, who led efforts to bring the internationally acclaimed exhibition to London, said at the time that City Hall had acknowledged receiving several invitations before later proposing dates after the exhibition had originally been due to close. She described the delay as frustrating, particularly given the number of senior political and religious figures who had already visited.

The exhibition has since been extended until 15 July following strong public demand.

Its final programme features talks from survivors, bereaved relatives and a former hostage, giving visitors the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of the 7 October atrocities and their lasting impact.

British-Israeli survivor Sean Burns will describe how he helped rescue fellow festival goers during the attack. Former hostage Bar Kupershtein, who was held in Gaza for 738 days before being released in October 2025, will speak about his captivity and recovery.

Visitors will also hear from survivor May Hayat, who escaped after terrorists attempted to take her hostage; survivor Anita Conforty, who fled the festival with her husband after hiding from gunfire; survivor Eden Rozner, who now shares his testimony with audiences around the world; and Avivit Abady Yablonka, whose brother Hanan was kidnapped during the attack and was later recovered dead from Gaza.

Organisers said the programme aims to give Londoners the opportunity to hear directly from those whose lives were forever changed by 7 October before the exhibition closes next Wednesday.