Ariana Grande concert turns deadly
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND– An Ariana Grande concert ended with what sounded like an explosion, as what is thought to be a suicide bombing killed at least 22 people and injured 119 others outside of the Manchester Arena on Monday, May 22nd.
Just as the show was ending and a parade of pink balloons were dropped onto the fans, a blast shook the crowd, causing confusion and pure terror within the audience, who were unaware of what had happened just outside the exit. Unsuspecting parents were also waiting outside of the venue to pick up their children.
Still in their Grande branded bunny ears, fans attempted to flee the building in chaos, climbing over chairs and railings as they lost track of their friends and loved ones getting sucked into the crowd without hesitation.
The majority of Grande’s fans consist of teens and children. The devastation of the situation is that much more painful as we anticipate the inflictions to assumably be among innocent young people.
All of the deaths have been confirmed, those of which include an eight year old child, an eighteen year old girl, and several other children and teens.
Other adults were killed in the blast as well, most likely accompanying or picking up their children.
The victims are as followed:
Courtney Boyle, 18
Philip Tron, 32
Wendy Fawell, 50
Elaine McIver, 43
Eilidh MacLeod, 14
Chloe Rutherford, 17
Megan Hurley, 15
Liam Curry, 19
Sorrell Leczkowski, 14
Nell Jones, 14
Martyn Hett, 29
Michelle Kiss, 45
Jane Tweddle-Taylor, 50
Marcin Klis, 42
Angelika Klis, 40
Kelly Brewster, 32
Olivia Campbell, 15
John Atkinson, 26
Alison Howe, 45
Lisa Lees, 47
Saffie-Rose Roussos, 8
Georgina Callander, 18
Originating at 59, the amount of survived yet injured victims of the bombing jumped to 119 when Manchester hospital officials included the “walking wounded” who sought out treatment themselves after the attack. That updated number includes 12 seriously injured children.
The man behind the incident has been identified as British born 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who was killed by the detonation of the bomb. Abedi was named by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.
Police are working to investigate whether this was a joined effort.
“Our priority, along with the police counter-terrorism network and our security partners, is to continue to establish whether he was acting alone or working as part of a wider network,” says Hopkins.
Monday’s explosion has been dubbed the deadliest terrorist attack on Britain since the London bombings in 2005, and is in fact, yes, believed to be a terrorist attack by Manchester Police.
ISIS did claim responsibility for the attack but was not capable of producing any evidence to support the claim.
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