Yishai Schlissel, who is serving a life sentence for his murderous attack on Jerusalem Pride last year, is suspected of trying to organize an attack at this year's event, which was held yesterday.

Schlissel's brother, Michael, was one of several people arrested on suspicion of plotting an attack, though he denies the allegation.

Security measures were dramatically increased at Thursday's event, which went on without incident.

"We have disrupted and prevented an attempt to hurt people during the parade," said Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevy. "The march will take place as planned. We will ensure that the public is able to realize its rights to free expression and protest in Israel’s democracy.”

At the 2015 Pride event, Schlissel attacked the crowd with a knife, injuring five people and killing 16-year-old Shira Banki.

Just a few weeks prior he had been released from prison, where he was serving a sentence for stabbing several people at a Pride parade in 2005.

Yesterday's march was the largest in the city's history, with more than 25,000 participants. That compares to the 5,000 people who joined in 2015.

Yarden Noy, who survived being attacked last year, said he was "scared to death" but wasn't going to miss the event.

"The message I want this march to relay is to not give in to terror,” Noy told the Guardian.

Jerusalem's mayor, Nir Barkat, refused to attend the march, claiming it caused "harm" to the city's ultra-Orthodox Jews.

“Tolerance is not just letting people march; it’s also looking for the way to get what you want without offending others opinions or feelings," Barkat said. "In Jerusalem, there’s a large population who has a really hard time with the parade.”

Before the parade, Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu delivered a statement condemning religious intolerance against Israel's LGBT community.

"Loving someone should never mean a life of fear or terror," he said, adding that "Sadly, some elements of our society are still not yet ready to accept the LGBT community."

"My solemn promise to you today is to continue fostering respect for all of Israel's citizens, without exception. Whether you are marching today or not, I ask you to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the LGBT community. We will not let hate drown out acceptance."