City of tears and tributes
Manchester honours its bomb victims one year on
MANCHESTER came to a standstill yesterday to mark the anniversary of the suicide bombing that killed 22 concert- goers.
As dignitaries including Prince William and Theresa May attended a cathedral service at which the victims’ names were read out, a minute’s silence was marked across the city and beyond.
Office workers stood outside in the sunshine, buses pulled over and even cranes on construction sites were pointed towards the Manchester Arena, scene of the devastating attack at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
Inside Manchester Cathedral were relatives of many of those who died, while in the square beyond more than 1,000 people – many in tears – watched the ceremony on a big screen.
A choir’s immaculate performance of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, which had been sung by Miss Grande at the One Love Manchester benefit concert following last May’s attack, brought spontaneous applause.
So too did the release of a single balloon in the shape of a bee, the symbol of the city’s defiant response to the deadliest terrorist outrage to hit Britain since the 7/7 bombings.
Later crowds assembled to take part in an emotional sing along in Manchester’s Albert Square to revive memories of the city’s defiant response to the attack, which also left 800 people with physical or psychological injuries.
Among the performers was the Manchester Survivors Choir, a group made up of people at the arena on the night of the concert.
Finally bells rang out at 10.31pm, marking the exact moment on May 22 last year that 22-year-old Salman Abedi detonated his home-made device as parents greeted youngsters beginning to stream out of the venue. Throughout the day a sea of people had gathered to attach personal messages to the leaves of a specially planted trail of Japanese maple trees in the centre of Manchester, while fountains and pavements were decorated with images of hearts and bees.
The memorial service was attended by Mrs May as well as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable.
On the altar 22 candles burned to represent those who died, along with a single larger candle symbolising the efforts of those left bereaved or injured to recover from the traumatic night.
The Dean of Manchester, the Very Rev Rogers Govender, told the congregation: ‘They will live on through those who love them... those lost and their loved ones will forever be in the hearts of the people of Manchester.’
Prince William gave a Bible reading, along with other readings by schoolchildren, NHS workers and members of the Hindi, Muslim, Sikh and Jewish communities. As photos of all 22 who lost their lives were projected on screen outside, friends and relatives began to sob and held their heads in the hands.
Among survivors there was Robby Potter, 48, who had been waiting for 12-yearold daughter Tegan. He said: ‘It brought a lot of memories back, but it was somewhere we had to come to support the families who have lost people. We were very lucky, we know how lucky we are.
‘It’s a case of standing strong. The country stood strong, especially Manchester.’ Tegan, who was unhurt, said: ‘It was good, but I felt sorry for those who lost people, and just how lucky I am that my dad’s still here.’
Another survivor, Lois Beaumont, 18, said: ‘I wanted to come to show my respects for those who didn’t make it or who were injured.’
After staying behind to talk to bereaved families, Prince William, Mrs May and the other party leaders wrote messages and left them on one of the ‘Trees of Hope’. William’s read: ‘To all those affected, you will never be forgotten. And to the people of Manchester, my admiration for your display of strength, decency and community in the face of this unparalleled tragedy.’
Detectives hope to extradite the bomber’s brother Hashem, 21, from Libya to stand trial over the murders, although the Daily Mail yesterday revealed he could escape British justice by refusing to comply.
‘You will never be forgotten’