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Manchester will recover, but some victims will not. Don't forget them Manchester will recover, but some victims will not. Don't forget them
(about 1 hour later)
It was an unusually beautiful day in Manchester, not a cloud in a deep blue sky, when that huge IRA bomb blasted the heart of the city 21 years ago; and this week when terror struck it turned out eerily sunny again. But as the devastating news of so many deaths and injuries hit on Tuesday, and people made their way quietly along Cross Street to the evening vigil held in Albert Square, the differences from what happened last time were dreadfully clear.It was an unusually beautiful day in Manchester, not a cloud in a deep blue sky, when that huge IRA bomb blasted the heart of the city 21 years ago; and this week when terror struck it turned out eerily sunny again. But as the devastating news of so many deaths and injuries hit on Tuesday, and people made their way quietly along Cross Street to the evening vigil held in Albert Square, the differences from what happened last time were dreadfully clear.
Back then, on a busy Saturday, 15 June 1996, the explosives in a truck parked outside Marks & Spencer wreaked astonishing damage to buildings, but there was a warning, and 75,000 people were evacuated. Although people suffered injuries, some of them serious, from the debris and glass that rained beyond the cordon, miraculously nobody was killed. The Mancunian pride and make-a-brew spirit that has been broadcast to the world this week could get on with a story which has become straightforward in the telling since: clean up, carry on, rebuild.Back then, on a busy Saturday, 15 June 1996, the explosives in a truck parked outside Marks & Spencer wreaked astonishing damage to buildings, but there was a warning, and 75,000 people were evacuated. Although people suffered injuries, some of them serious, from the debris and glass that rained beyond the cordon, miraculously nobody was killed. The Mancunian pride and make-a-brew spirit that has been broadcast to the world this week could get on with a story which has become straightforward in the telling since: clean up, carry on, rebuild.
Manchester affirmed its character again this week, its remarkable history of industrial and democratic firsts, the musical and football greatness and collective solidarity, but walking through the city sealed off to traffic, the story was tragically far from straightforward. This time there was no warning; quite the opposite. What was done by Salman Abedi in the foyer of the arena next to Victoria station was planned to cause maximum damage to the most people, at an event as heady and innocent as an Ariana Grande concert.Manchester affirmed its character again this week, its remarkable history of industrial and democratic firsts, the musical and football greatness and collective solidarity, but walking through the city sealed off to traffic, the story was tragically far from straightforward. This time there was no warning; quite the opposite. What was done by Salman Abedi in the foyer of the arena next to Victoria station was planned to cause maximum damage to the most people, at an event as heady and innocent as an Ariana Grande concert.
There was no great plume of smoke in the sky as in 1996, and the city looked eerily pristine in the sunshine, the area rebuilt after the IRA bomb to feature an improved Arndale centre, rebuilt M&S, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, just metres away from the arena. There, the end of Corporation Street, in front of the arena, station and National Football Museum, was taped off, guarded by police. The bottom of Deansgate was sealed off too, chosen as the location for all the film crews, because the arena could be seen prominently, as a backdrop.There was no great plume of smoke in the sky as in 1996, and the city looked eerily pristine in the sunshine, the area rebuilt after the IRA bomb to feature an improved Arndale centre, rebuilt M&S, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, just metres away from the arena. There, the end of Corporation Street, in front of the arena, station and National Football Museum, was taped off, guarded by police. The bottom of Deansgate was sealed off too, chosen as the location for all the film crews, because the arena could be seen prominently, as a backdrop.
Greater Manchester police, whose response with the ambulance service, doctors and nurses of the NHS was already awe-inspiring, had insisted that Manchester was open as normal, but of course it was not. The streets were closed to traffic, the Arndale centre had been shut after a disturbance; it was terribly quiet in town. Throughout, there was the knowledge that beyond the safety and normality of the taped off cordon, the people finding ways to express their sympathy and common humanity, was true horror and suffering.Greater Manchester police, whose response with the ambulance service, doctors and nurses of the NHS was already awe-inspiring, had insisted that Manchester was open as normal, but of course it was not. The streets were closed to traffic, the Arndale centre had been shut after a disturbance; it was terribly quiet in town. Throughout, there was the knowledge that beyond the safety and normality of the taped off cordon, the people finding ways to express their sympathy and common humanity, was true horror and suffering.
To be there was to experience a weird detachment, even at the vigil heartened by the multifaith leaders standing shoulder to shoulder and Tony Shaw’s brilliantly performed poem celebrating Manchester’s best account of itself. It was said that Manchester was grieving, but nothing felt at that gathering could equate to the first stages of actual grief being experienced by families of those whose loved ones had been at that concert and not walked out. Given the size and status of the arena, it was always going to be the case that the people there were not just from Manchester but all over the north and beyond, and so it turned out, as those who died were named, one by one through the week. To be there was to experience a weird detachment, even at the vigil heartened by the multifaith leaders standing shoulder to shoulder and Tony Walsh’s brilliantly performed poem celebrating Manchester’s best account of itself. It was said that Manchester was grieving, but nothing felt at that gathering could equate to the first stages of actual grief being experienced by families of those whose loved ones had been at that concert and not walked out. Given the size and status of the arena, it was always going to be the case that the people there were not just from Manchester but all over the north and beyond, and so it turned out, as those who died were named, one by one through the week.
People in Manchester did what they could, and the outpouring of help and generosity, the taxi drivers running people around for free, the money donated for the victims and pints bought for the emergency services formed a civilised riposte to Abedi’s violence. But there was a world between the bit that people could do and the huge scale of the heartbreak. Many people in Albert Square and those who performed their acts of kindness, like the cafe owner interviewed on BBC radio who had offered free cups of tea to the emergency services, said they felt helpless. The damage done was beyond reach and comprehension and out of sight, and there was not even any debris, as there was in 1996, which teams of Mancunians could busy themselves sweeping up.People in Manchester did what they could, and the outpouring of help and generosity, the taxi drivers running people around for free, the money donated for the victims and pints bought for the emergency services formed a civilised riposte to Abedi’s violence. But there was a world between the bit that people could do and the huge scale of the heartbreak. Many people in Albert Square and those who performed their acts of kindness, like the cafe owner interviewed on BBC radio who had offered free cups of tea to the emergency services, said they felt helpless. The damage done was beyond reach and comprehension and out of sight, and there was not even any debris, as there was in 1996, which teams of Mancunians could busy themselves sweeping up.
The message from the civic and religious leaders and Andy Burnham, elected Greater Manchester mayor barely two weeks earlier then plunged into dealing with this hell, was that the outrage must not cause division and hatred, because that is what the terrorists seek to sow. Repeatedly, people said that Manchester is a great city, tolerant, diverse, creative – and all of that is true.The message from the civic and religious leaders and Andy Burnham, elected Greater Manchester mayor barely two weeks earlier then plunged into dealing with this hell, was that the outrage must not cause division and hatred, because that is what the terrorists seek to sow. Repeatedly, people said that Manchester is a great city, tolerant, diverse, creative – and all of that is true.
But Manchester, like anywhere, isn’t that great all over or all of the time, and has plenty of divisions already, by race, religion, social class and economic circumstances. Burnham himself campaigned on the argument that Manchester had been neglected, by Westminster and the media, that solid industrial jobs had never been adequately replaced, that there were too few opportunities for young people and far too much homelessness. One of those many rough sleepers was a hero in the immediate aftermath, also revealing the wickedness of Abedi’s bomb when he recalled having to pull nails out of one young woman’s face.But Manchester, like anywhere, isn’t that great all over or all of the time, and has plenty of divisions already, by race, religion, social class and economic circumstances. Burnham himself campaigned on the argument that Manchester had been neglected, by Westminster and the media, that solid industrial jobs had never been adequately replaced, that there were too few opportunities for young people and far too much homelessness. One of those many rough sleepers was a hero in the immediate aftermath, also revealing the wickedness of Abedi’s bomb when he recalled having to pull nails out of one young woman’s face.
Division is there; the vast majority of Mancunians believing in solidarity and common values were unaware that there could even be radicals like Abedi, plotting such evil, in a suburb as familiar and studenty as Fallowfield. Along with the warm and welcome words, people need answers to hard questions, about how such a monstrosity can be incubated here, and how on earth it can be prevented.Division is there; the vast majority of Mancunians believing in solidarity and common values were unaware that there could even be radicals like Abedi, plotting such evil, in a suburb as familiar and studenty as Fallowfield. Along with the warm and welcome words, people need answers to hard questions, about how such a monstrosity can be incubated here, and how on earth it can be prevented.
Politics was suspended in the aftershock of the bomb. But it did seem jarring, even on Tuesday, to speak of avoiding division, now that Britain has voted to actually leave the alliance of the European Union – partly due to the fear of terrorism – which Theresa May herself said before the referendum would make the country less secure.Politics was suspended in the aftershock of the bomb. But it did seem jarring, even on Tuesday, to speak of avoiding division, now that Britain has voted to actually leave the alliance of the European Union – partly due to the fear of terrorism – which Theresa May herself said before the referendum would make the country less secure.
The disaster echoed in the city this week was not the 1996 bomb, but the 1958 Munich air crash, in which 23 people died, including eight Manchester United players. Then too, people are said to have been in shock, quiet, not knowing what to do, but detached from the horror itself. The lord mayor set up an emergency fund for victims this time; United and City pledged £1m, and Liam Gallagher is to play a fundraising concert. After that disaster, the public story largely took over; principally United’s recovery as a football club to win the European Cup 10 years later. Only in more recent years have the families of some who died, and of survivors, revealed that they were somewhat neglected over the years.The disaster echoed in the city this week was not the 1996 bomb, but the 1958 Munich air crash, in which 23 people died, including eight Manchester United players. Then too, people are said to have been in shock, quiet, not knowing what to do, but detached from the horror itself. The lord mayor set up an emergency fund for victims this time; United and City pledged £1m, and Liam Gallagher is to play a fundraising concert. After that disaster, the public story largely took over; principally United’s recovery as a football club to win the European Cup 10 years later. Only in more recent years have the families of some who died, and of survivors, revealed that they were somewhat neglected over the years.
The truth is that the IRA bomb was not such a straightforward story of rebuilding. Manchester’s regeneration was well under way by then, and nobody believed such devastation was needed for a city makeover. Although nobody died, more than 200 people were injured, some very seriously, not able to walk again, or work. Incredibly, they are still seeking help; only last month the parliamentary Northern Ireland affairs committee called for more to be done for them and other victims of the IRA bombing campaigns. In a ghoulish circle of destruction, the semtex used in the IRA bombs was proved to have come from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya, and the committee called for the British government to pursue compensation for victims from Libya, as the US has done.The truth is that the IRA bomb was not such a straightforward story of rebuilding. Manchester’s regeneration was well under way by then, and nobody believed such devastation was needed for a city makeover. Although nobody died, more than 200 people were injured, some very seriously, not able to walk again, or work. Incredibly, they are still seeking help; only last month the parliamentary Northern Ireland affairs committee called for more to be done for them and other victims of the IRA bombing campaigns. In a ghoulish circle of destruction, the semtex used in the IRA bombs was proved to have come from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya, and the committee called for the British government to pursue compensation for victims from Libya, as the US has done.
Manchester and its people will have to move on from this crime, as will the media, eventually, and life must go back to normal. But life will never be normal again for those who have really suffered, and they must be given all the support they need, and never forgotten.Manchester and its people will have to move on from this crime, as will the media, eventually, and life must go back to normal. But life will never be normal again for those who have really suffered, and they must be given all the support they need, and never forgotten.