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Manchester Arena bombing: thousands gather for vigil in city centre – live news Manchester Arena bombing: thousands gather for vigil in city centre – live news
(35 minutes later)
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The poet, Tony Walsh - also known as Longfella, delivers a passionate rendition of his poem This Is The Place at the city’s vigil on Tuesday, saying “always remember, never forget. Forever Manchester”.
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Phil and Kim Dick were caught up in the blast when they went to pick up their daughter and granddaughter from the concert. Their relatives were found safe and well but they described caring for one little girl who had been hurt, as well as the horrendous scenes inside the arena.
Speaking to Channel 4 News on Tuesday, Phil also had a message for people who might seek to exploit the atrocity.
It’s an absolutely terrible thing and I just pray to God that none of these extremists try and make political capital out of it because the last thing that anybody needs now is any more divisiveness.
That’s what terrorists want. What they want to do is they want to divide, they want to try and affect our way of life and, unfortunately, there are people on all parts of the political spectrum [who] want to use these kinds of incidents for their own political ends. And, if they do, they’re not much better than the bombers, I don’t think.
You can watch the full interview here. Note: the programme has warned its viewers that the Dicks’ full testimony was graphic and that some people might find it upsetting.
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The author of a poem that stirred the emotions of mourners at a vigil in Manchester says it was a “privilege” to read it.The author of a poem that stirred the emotions of mourners at a vigil in Manchester says it was a “privilege” to read it.
Poet Tony Walsh, 51, delivered a version of his poem This Is The Place - an ode to the city of Manchester and its people - to a packed Albert Square.Poet Tony Walsh, 51, delivered a version of his poem This Is The Place - an ode to the city of Manchester and its people - to a packed Albert Square.
“As a proud Mancunian, I was worried that I’d find that emotional, particularly when I mentioned my mum, who passed away a while ago,” he says. “It meant a lot to me. I wanted to do it for Manchester. I didn’t want to crack, because Manchester won’t crack. I felt quite calm actually, when it came to do it. It was a privilege.”“As a proud Mancunian, I was worried that I’d find that emotional, particularly when I mentioned my mum, who passed away a while ago,” he says. “It meant a lot to me. I wanted to do it for Manchester. I didn’t want to crack, because Manchester won’t crack. I felt quite calm actually, when it came to do it. It was a privilege.”
The poet, originally from Tameside, said the poem was previously commissioned by a charity called Forever Manchester. “There was flashes of humour in there because that’s Manchester all the time, and it’s Manchester even in its darkest hours.The poet, originally from Tameside, said the poem was previously commissioned by a charity called Forever Manchester. “There was flashes of humour in there because that’s Manchester all the time, and it’s Manchester even in its darkest hours.
“And it’s important to me that the poem is true to Manchester and its people, and we fight through these things with humour, as hard as it is sometimes. That’s the Mancunian way,” he said.“And it’s important to me that the poem is true to Manchester and its people, and we fight through these things with humour, as hard as it is sometimes. That’s the Mancunian way,” he said.
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has issued a video statement after attending the vigil in Albert Square.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has issued a video statement after attending the vigil in Albert Square.
The British people are standing together, determined that terrorism will not divide our communities, as its perpetrators clearly intend. pic.twitter.com/QaqtDpV7SbThe British people are standing together, determined that terrorism will not divide our communities, as its perpetrators clearly intend. pic.twitter.com/QaqtDpV7Sb
A Labour spokesman said the party’s general election campaign remained suspended until further notice: “Events planned for tomorrow have been cancelled.”A Labour spokesman said the party’s general election campaign remained suspended until further notice: “Events planned for tomorrow have been cancelled.”
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Guardian reporter Steven Morris tweets:Guardian reporter Steven Morris tweets:
Police are doing the rounds of the mosques in Manchester to check they are not being targeted. pic.twitter.com/mPJyvk19KEPolice are doing the rounds of the mosques in Manchester to check they are not being targeted. pic.twitter.com/mPJyvk19KE
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The prime minister, Theresa May, is now chairing a second meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee in Whitehall.The prime minister, Theresa May, is now chairing a second meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee in Whitehall.
It is understood that campaigning for the general election will remain suspended on Wednesday.It is understood that campaigning for the general election will remain suspended on Wednesday.
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BBC reporter Kathryn Stanczyszyn tweets from Birmingham:BBC reporter Kathryn Stanczyszyn tweets from Birmingham:
Perimeter put in place around #Birmingham #VictoriaSquare after some kind of incident - shouting was heard during #Vigil @bbcwm pic.twitter.com/euMgqurIp8Perimeter put in place around #Birmingham #VictoriaSquare after some kind of incident - shouting was heard during #Vigil @bbcwm pic.twitter.com/euMgqurIp8
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A vigil in Birmingham for the Manchester Arena victims has been interrupted after a man apparently armed with a large knife and a baseball bat was detained nearby, Press Association reports.A vigil in Birmingham for the Manchester Arena victims has been interrupted after a man apparently armed with a large knife and a baseball bat was detained nearby, Press Association reports.
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Manchester mayor Andy Burnham tweets:Manchester mayor Andy Burnham tweets:
Thank you Manchester. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. pic.twitter.com/d88atzvDwbThank you Manchester. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. pic.twitter.com/d88atzvDwb
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Police find CCTV video of bomberPolice find CCTV video of bomber
Vikram DoddVikram Dodd
Police are understood to have recovered CCTV video of the bomber walking into Manchester Arena where he detonated a bomb. It shows the explosion was deliberate and caused by a device that it is believed was contained in a bag, a source said.Police are understood to have recovered CCTV video of the bomber walking into Manchester Arena where he detonated a bomb. It shows the explosion was deliberate and caused by a device that it is believed was contained in a bag, a source said.
The device is described as homemade and crude. It was stable enough to be transported and exploded with devastating effect. It is believed to have been constructed in Britain.The device is described as homemade and crude. It was stable enough to be transported and exploded with devastating effect. It is believed to have been constructed in Britain.
The attacker had an identity document on him, sources said. The man named by police – Salman Abedi – was born to parents from Libya who came to Britain to flee the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.The attacker had an identity document on him, sources said. The man named by police – Salman Abedi – was born to parents from Libya who came to Britain to flee the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.
One senior security source described the attack involving the acquisition and construction of a bomb as “a gamechanger” that has “rocked us backwards” because a successful bomb plot has not occurred in the UK since 2005.One senior security source described the attack involving the acquisition and construction of a bomb as “a gamechanger” that has “rocked us backwards” because a successful bomb plot has not occurred in the UK since 2005.
There is uncertainty among investigators about whether Abedi built the bomb himself, or had help. GMP’s chief constable, Ian Hopkins, said: “The priority remains to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.”There is uncertainty among investigators about whether Abedi built the bomb himself, or had help. GMP’s chief constable, Ian Hopkins, said: “The priority remains to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.”
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Severin CarrellSeverin Carrell
Family friends of Laura MacIntyre, 15, the schoolgirl from Barra who went missing last night with her close friend Eilidh MacLeod, say she is in hospital with very serious burns. “We’re just getting confirmation of that ourselves,” said Donald Manford, a local councillor and great uncle of Eilidh. “She is very seriously injured and ill.”Family friends of Laura MacIntyre, 15, the schoolgirl from Barra who went missing last night with her close friend Eilidh MacLeod, say she is in hospital with very serious burns. “We’re just getting confirmation of that ourselves,” said Donald Manford, a local councillor and great uncle of Eilidh. “She is very seriously injured and ill.”
Manford said he had yet to hear any word about Eilidh, 14. “She’s a very vibrant young person, who’s very involved in the community. When we have ceilidhs, she’s a dancer and a piper,” he said earlier. “It’s a very anxious time.”Manford said he had yet to hear any word about Eilidh, 14. “She’s a very vibrant young person, who’s very involved in the community. When we have ceilidhs, she’s a dancer and a piper,” he said earlier. “It’s a very anxious time.”
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Former Manchester United player Eric Cantona tweets:Former Manchester United player Eric Cantona tweets:
A message from Eric Cantona to the people of Manchester: "I suffer with you. My heart is with you."pic.twitter.com/2nDNiaMmR6A message from Eric Cantona to the people of Manchester: "I suffer with you. My heart is with you."pic.twitter.com/2nDNiaMmR6
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Addressing the crowd at the vigil, GMP’s Ian Hopkins said: “As your chief constable of Greater Manchester and as a father I cannot begin to imagine how anyone can carry out such an unthinkable act – murdering 22 people and injuring 59 – and my thoughts and those of my colleague are very much with their families at this incredibly difficult time.”Addressing the crowd at the vigil, GMP’s Ian Hopkins said: “As your chief constable of Greater Manchester and as a father I cannot begin to imagine how anyone can carry out such an unthinkable act – murdering 22 people and injuring 59 – and my thoughts and those of my colleague are very much with their families at this incredibly difficult time.”
He continued: “Last night, in the most atrocious circumstances, the people of Greater Manchester showed the world how much we care. How much we care about each other and how much we were prepared to help those in need. And I’ve heard some tremendous stories of doctors coming in to support and police officers, ambulance workers giving up their days off turning up to help those in need.”He continued: “Last night, in the most atrocious circumstances, the people of Greater Manchester showed the world how much we care. How much we care about each other and how much we were prepared to help those in need. And I’ve heard some tremendous stories of doctors coming in to support and police officers, ambulance workers giving up their days off turning up to help those in need.”
Senior figures who attended the Manchester event included the home secretary Amber Rudd, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, and the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.Senior figures who attended the Manchester event included the home secretary Amber Rudd, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, and the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham.
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An appeal set up today by the Manchester Evening News has now raised more than £500,000.An appeal set up today by the Manchester Evening News has now raised more than £500,000.
This is incredible. https://t.co/4IGf25Qa7R pic.twitter.com/ZMr8yjQt5JThis is incredible. https://t.co/4IGf25Qa7R pic.twitter.com/ZMr8yjQt5J
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The alert over a suspicious package found at Salford University has turned out to be a false alarm.The alert over a suspicious package found at Salford University has turned out to be a false alarm.
Police have confirmed we can now reopen buildings with immediate effect and the @createatsalford Fashion Show will go ahead as planned.(1/2)Police have confirmed we can now reopen buildings with immediate effect and the @createatsalford Fashion Show will go ahead as planned.(1/2)
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