Around the time I went to bed the bomb went off.
I was totally unaware of what had happened until around 3.00am, when my wife woke me. Friends from around the country, indeed the world, had messaged us. Then, bleary eyed, we tried to process just what had happened.
There was footage of the panic; people searching for lost children; a distressed woman rang our local radio station with a horrific account of what she had witnessed; friends of ours announced that they were safe.
The friend of my little girl was at the concert with her family. There were other people attending that we know. My daughter herself was at a concert in that same venue just a couple of weeks ago. The arena can be accessed through the train station which I have been commuting from. Not so long ago I attended the Young Voices competition as a staff member with my children’s school choir. 8,000 children were present that day. Suddenly the horror that regularly unfolds throughout the world was on our doorstep.
After the recent attack at Westminster I said to my wife that it was only a matter of time before our city was hit. Whenever you are in a crowded place of course it crosses your mind. Football matches, shopping centres, and like last night-music concerts. But we have to continue.
This threat isn’t going away any time soon. We have to all stand firm against it. Of course by ‘we’ I mean all of us, everywhere. But being rooted in a place gives you a sense of belonging. This is my city. These are my people. I am proud of my fellow Mancunians who went to the aid of the injured and dying, the taxi and bus drivers who were ferrying people from the centre for free, the hotels who were taking in children who had been separated from their parents, people offering beds for the night, and more and more and more.
Manchester is no stranger to such atrocities. There was the IRA bomb of 1996 which utterly devastated the town centre. The Manchester we know today rose from the ashes of that day. But back then everybody had been evacuated, miraculously nobody was killed. Last night it was people targeted. It was children. When we say we will go on, when we say we will stand firm, it is more than rhetoric. More than posting a hashtag. But when the people who commit such acts are targeting events that are packed with thousands of children, just what are we to do?
That is for another day.
My prayers go out to those who lost their lives last night in my beautiful city.
I was shocked and saddened by the news. It makes me so angry that the attack happened. The people of Manchester are definitely in my prayers.
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Thank you Linda. And thanks for thinking of us and reaching out to us today.
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Oh, Andy…
“It was children. When we say we will go on, when we say we will stand firm, it is more than rhetoric. More than posting a hashtag.”
…you and your beautiful city and all those children are in my prayers today…it’s all I CAN do.
peace
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And that is enough. Thank you Laura.
Peace. Always.
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Oh Andy – so horrible. I spent one of the best years of my life in Manchester and made friendships that year I treasure today. Sending all my love. I was a kid and I got to be a kid. So unfair for these babies and their broken families.
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Thank you so much, Kerry.
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Shocked and saddened that terrorism only generates terrorism. No common man wants to perish this way. Innocents taken away indiscriminately. I always fear inhumanity. Terrorism is a man made story that hits anywhere anytime… My thoughts with all the families affected, irrespective of creed, culture, or religious etiquette… We are one humanity.
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Inhumanity seems even more inhuman when it involves children. Thanks Nat.
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Andy, our world is a hard and beautiful place. I am glad you and yours are safe.
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Thank you Michael. Yes, we make it a difficult one to manoeuvre through.
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Powerful words! My prayers are with ya’ll. How do our minds make “a heaven of (this) hell?”
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Thank you vgannawa. My attempt to do that is by focusing on the many selfless acts I have learnt of today. Of how the people, not only the professionals but the ordinary Mancunians, came together in defiance of the hurt and terror that has been wrought in my city. It is difficult, though.
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This is so sad and utterly senseless! As you said we must stand firm and united against such horror. Thoughts, prayers and love to you and Manchester xo
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Thank you Rosie x
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Glad you and yours are okay!
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Thank you Fredrik.
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I remember the IRA bomb. That was terrible but noone died…..this has shocked, saddened, angered and left me stunned me. I love being a manc. I can’t imagine what people have gone through trawling hospitals for loved ones. But what’s not surprised me is how Manchester has responded xx
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Yes, it is even worse because it is the targeting of children. But the Mancunian response has been inspirational.
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“don’t look back in Anger”…….so emotional. Made me cry
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That was a beautiful moment. All started with a lone voice.
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Sometimes that’s all it takes…. I shall be going to the games. I think it’s important to makes sure I attend things like that now
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On that dreadful day, Manchester city became Manchester united.
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That is very true.
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