Manchester Arena bombing: how the city found love after terror attack

Manchester had endured the terror of the wartime Blitz and the devastation caused by the IRA bomb in 1996.

But its darkest day came in May 2017, when a terrorist detonated a bomb in the foyer of Manchester Arena, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds more.

The attack targeted what should have been a joyful celebration: an Ariana Grande concert where people of all ages had come together to enjoy music and community.

In the 100 days that followed, Manchester responded with something far greater than fear or division. The city showed resilience, unity, and a level of compassion that no statistic can measure.

How Manchester fought back with love

The victims came from across Greater Manchester and beyond: from Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Lancashire, Cheshire, Tyneside, and even as far as the Outer Hebrides.

Fourteen-year-old Eilidh MacLeod had travelled from the Isle of Barra to attend the concert. She never made it home.

The attack was vile and cowardly, deliberately targeting young people, many of them girls, whose only “crime” was the joy of being at a long-awaited concert.

But the terrorist failed to break Manchester’s spirit. The city stood tall. This Is The Place that fought back with love.

Tributes from around the world

As shockwaves from the suicide bombing rippled across the world on 22nd of May 2017, so too did the impact of the commemorations that followed: tributes that reached far beyond Manchester, resonating with people everywhere.

In the days that followed, the city faced heartbreaking realities. The process of identifying victims was long and painful. Many were children. The youngest, Saffie Roussos, was just eight years old.

When the civic memorial service was announced, Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese spoke for an entire city: “Manchester will never forget the terrible events of 22nd of May 2017 nor the remarkable display of unity and love which followed.”

Just as the shockwaves from the suicide bomber’s atrocity reverberated around the world, the impact of the commemoration, dedicated to the victims caught up in the carnage echoed far beyond Manchester.

“Those who were killed and their loved ones, as well as all those left physically or mentally injured, have a place in our hearts not just on the 22nd of May but every day.”

Even in the immediate aftermath of the attack, members of the Manchester public acted with generosity and courage. Taxi drivers offered free rides to get people safely home whilst bars and hotels opened up their venues as emergency accommodation. Residents took to social media to offer transport and rooms for the night.

And even when the city was still in a situation of high alert, a massive crowd gathered in Albert Square for a vigil the evening after the attack to show solidarity and  respect for the people affected.

People from across communities came together to help each other; with a number of stands from the Manchester Sikh community giving out free food and drink. Just days later, a pop-up trauma centre had opened in the Northern Quarter, providing psychological services for those who needed it.

Raising money

And not only did people reflect and remember. They raised money too. Donations started flooding in, with the We Love Manchester Fund set up to accept donations towards helping the families of those affected by the attack.

Within days it had raised over £5.57 million and big names like Eminem came forward to give.

United and City showed that although football may divide them, love for the city and its people unites them. They donated £1 million to the fund. The city was united.

City cinemas united to raise money. Places across the world showed their respect for Manchester’s resolve –  with Tweets and messages coming in from across continents. Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate even lit up in a show of solidarity.

The people of Manchester refused to be silenced

The people of Manchester people refused to be silenced and carried on celebrating the city they are proud of.

People packed the streets to take part in the Great Manchester Run, The Moods and Argh Kid amongst others performed at The Manchester Creative Collective and The Courteeners put on a packed-out gig at Old Trafford Cricket Ground. The sound of 50,000 people stood there singing Don’t Look Back In Anger gave you goosebumps.

The memorial service comes just a few days after Lisa Roussos, mother of the attack’s youngest victim, Saffie-Rose, took part in the Great Manchester Run. Mrs Roussos was so badly injured that she was unaware of her eight-year-old daughter’s death until she woke from a coma six weeks after the bombing.

She was joined by 20 friends, family and medical staff who helped her to walk again through the course on Sunday, all to raise money for their charity to support victims of terrorism, 22MCR.

The Arena attack killed not only killed 22 people but also injured more than 800 and prompted at least another 3,000 to seek help and support.

The Great Manchester Run also saw police officer-turned fire fighter Aaron Parmar complete his remarkable challenge of running 22 10k races – each dedicated to raising money in honour of one of the 22 Arena bomb victims.

After every event, Aaron had his finisher’s medal engraved with the name of a victim and gave it to the family as a special keepsake.

The response of people in Manchester and around the world, refusing to Look Back in Anger, saw donations to the We Love MCR Emergency Fund reach a staggering £21.6 million.

When the fund called for an end to donations, Figen Murray from Stockport, whose son Martyn Hett was killed in the bombing, said: “The generosity of the public in Manchester, the UK and around the world is another testimony that terrorism cannot destroy the human spirit.”

Figen Murray and Martyn’s Law

Figen began tirelessly campaigning for changes to UK law in the aftermath of her son Martyn’s death. Her mission was to ensure no other family would suffer the same devastating loss.

She championed what would become known as Martyn’s Law, formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, legislation designed to improve public safety by requiring certain venues and events to take measures to reduce the risk of terrorism and increase preparedness in the event of an attack.

And she succeeded.

Figen recently celebrated the moment Martyn’s Law was officially written into UK law. Thanks to her relentless campaigning, anyone attending a concert or public event in this city — and across the country — will now be safer.

The gigs just kept on coming. A massive and emotional One Love Manchester concert marked the return of Ariana Grande to the city – who was made an honorary citizen of Manchester – and raised £2.35 million for The Emergency Fund.

It included so many memorable moments showing the character of the people here – everything from Liam Gallagher in an orange mac, to policemen playing ring o’roses with the children.

People adopted the I Love MCR symbol as a sign of defiance against terror and there was also a resurgence in the popularity of the worker bee as a symbol of the city.

People weren’t just wearing their hearts on their sleeves though. In fact, they were showing them right on their skin, with a number of people opting for fundraising tattoos.

We even created our own and I Love MCR merchandise flew off the shelves, with proceeds to the fund.

After the vigils, the tears and the tattoos, comes the reality of trying to move on.

One of the survivors left disabled by the bomb told ITV’s Granada Reports that he feels forgotten as support starts to slip away.

Martin Hibbert, who was at the concert with his daughter, took 22 bolts to his body. He was left paralysed following the attack and has been fighting his way back to fitness ever since.

He says without the We Love MCR charity he’d be struggling.

“I can’t believe six months has gone,” he said. “It only feels like last month.

“I was housebound for five weeks. The We Love MCR Fund has given me the money to buy equipment like an electronic wheelchair. Some people think the victims like me have received millions of pounds but that’s not the case.”

Other families are making plans for the future knowing things will never be the same.

Charlotte Campbell, who lost her fifteen-year old daughter Olivia in the attack, is getting married in a few days time. She will be walked down the aisle by Adam Lawler, her daughter’s best friend, to the sound of Olivia singing John Legend’s All Of Me.

In the last few days, posters bearing the words, ‘For our 22 angels. We miss you. We stand together’ were distributed following the Little Mix concerts at the Arena.

The words of Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham following the terror attack, still ring true. “We are grieving but we are strong and united. This is Manchester.”

It’s our responsibility to show both vigilance and resilience. How the city has both respected the victims and also returned to normality. We stand together.

This is a place whose creative spirit will not and does not subside. Manchester artists staged a massive online auction to raise money for the families of victims and a new music compilation Manchester With Love also raised funds.

Both the Manchester Day Parade and the opening of Manchester International Festival brought together a poignant combination of celebration and reflection.

Local street artist Elton Darlo painted 22 canvasses of St Ann’s Square in a touching tribute to the lives lost.

12 year-old Amelia Thompson, who was at the Arena concert, has gone on to inspire others by being involved in a poignant photoshoot.

And, in a beautiful show of strength, local Beth Clarke set up a plan to gather some knitted hearts and distribute them throughout the city centre. Little did she know that the idea would get international support as well-wishers from all over the world responded to the #AHEART4MCR social media campaign and sent Manchester their love.

Manchester Arena reopened on Saturday 9th of September with a massive benefit concert headlined by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds to raise money for the Manchester Memorial Fund.

The people of Manchester will not forget but they will also get on with their lives. Following a Bank Holiday weekend of numerous festivals, celebrations and the Manchester Pride Parade, the proof is there to see. Just look around you.