Today was one of the toughest of my life.. but I had to go back
Survivor Millie’s return to bombed venue
Manchester arena bomb survivors have returned to the venue ahead of its reopening for a benefit concert tonight, in memory of the 22 killed.
Millie Robson, 15, was among those making an emotional visit yesterday, less than four months after the attack.
She was leaving the arena with pal Laura Anderson when Salman Abedi blew himself up in the foyer.
Urging others to go back to the site of the atrocity, brave Millie said: “Today was one of the toughest of my life.
“Revisiting Manchester Arena and seeing the place where my life changed forever is something I couldn’t even think about doing a few months ago.
“Nevertheless, surrounded by my family and best friend, we allowed ourselves to gain closure from the difficult visit and [it] truly showed me and Laura how lucky we were that night.
“Life is so precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Ever.”
Millie was one of more than 100 people injured in the attack after the Ariana Grande concert. She was left with shrapnel and bolts in her leg after Abedi, 22, detonated his homemade bomb. The teenager, from County Durham, spent more than two weeks in hospital.
Two days after she was discharged, Millie met American singer Grande at the One Love tribute concert.
Tonight, Noel Gallagher’s band High Flying Birds will share a stage at the arena with The Courteeners, Blossoms, Rick Astley and others at the We Are Manchester gig, raising cash for a permanent memorial.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, added: “The arena reopening will be a difficult and emotional night for everyone but it is an important event that will bring people together to remember all those affected by the horrific attack. This is the strongest possible statement we can make to those that peddle hate. They will not change us, we will stand together. They’ll never change Manchester.”
The victims’ visits to the arena were arranged by the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. They saw the repaired City Room – the name of the entrance where Abedi blew himself up. It now carries the slogan #WeAreManchester.
Foundation chief Nick Taylor said: “It is important we were able to facilitate this for people to see the space and ask any questions before it reopens.”