The moment of comfort that symbolises city’s unity
A MINUTE’S silence will be observed at 11am today in remembrance of all those who lost their lives in the Manchester bombing.
The silence will also mark the nation’s solidarity with those who were injured in the blast as well as others affected by the atrocity.
Flags will remain at half-mast on government buildings until this evening, said a statement released jointly by 10 Downing Street, the Foreign Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Officials said there was no national event planned for the silence but that individuals and organisations across the country are expected to decide for themselves how to mark the moment.
Yesterday crowds continued to gather in Manchester’s Albert Square, where tributes to victims had been left.
Among the crowds, Sadiq Patel, a Muslim man, was seen comforting Renee Rachel Black, an elderly Jewish lady, in a scene that was seen as typical of the city’s sense of unity.
The square had hosted a vigil on Tuesday night, with similar gatherings held across Britain – including in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Belfast, Coventry, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bolton, Swindon and Leeds.
At Albert Square, a minute’s silence followed words from mayor Andy Burnham, Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins and poet Tony Walsh, many of which moved members of the crowd to tears. A vigil in the small Lancashire village of Tarleton was attended by the mother of Georgina Callander, one of the victims. Georgina lived in the village and another of the victims, eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos, went to school there.