After Manchester: Ariana Grande visits injured fans in hospital
LONDON — Pop star Ariana Grande surprised young fans injured in the Manchester Arena attack, hugging the thrilled little girls in their hospital beds as they recovered from injuries sustained in the May 22 suicide bombing.
The attack at Grande’s concert last week killed 22 people and injured dozens of others, many of them teenagers. The singer returned to Britain on Friday ahead of a concert to benefit victims and their families.
Grande shared an image of her visit to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital with her 107 million Instagram followers. The caption was simply a heart.
Others touched by the visit posted pictures on social media, including a group shot with Grande among the nurses caring for the children hurt in the blast.
Peter Mann, whose daughter Jaden was injured in the attack, posted several photos of Grande and the youngster on Facebook.
“So happy she came i could burst!,” he wrote. “Never seen jaden so happy! even cried again myself.”
Tasha Hough also shared photos of Jaden and Grande on social media. “I think she’s a little star struck. No1 deserves this more than her. That smile! And what a lovely girl Ariana Grande is.”
Prince Willam also visited the hopsital on Friday.
He praised the “strength and togetherness” of Manchester .
The prince signed the condolence book at Manchester Cathedral, writing, “Manchester’s strength and togetherness is an example to the world. My thoughts are with all those affected.”
He also visited first responders who were on the ground during the bombing to offer his thanks.
Prince William privately met with victims of the attack at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, the same hospital his grandmother, the Queen, visited last week to meet with victims, families and medical staff.
“It’s dreadful. Very wicked, to target that sort of thing,” she said of the attack during her visit. “It’s not something you expect at all.”
Meanwhile, Manchester Police said they have released a man who had been arrested in the concert arena bombing investigation without charging him.
Police said the 21-year-old man was set free Wednesday night.
Ten men are in custody being questioned about possible roles in the blast while six people, including a woman, have been released without being charged.
The suspects still in custody have not been identified or charged.
Police say that the 22-year-old bomber, Salman Abedi, acted largely alone when he assembled the device he used to kill 22 people and injure dozens more at an Ariana Grande concert on May 22.
Abedi died in the blast.