Civic, community and business groups in Manchester have pulled together in defiance of a suicide bomb attack at Manchester Arena last night which killed at least 22 people and injured 59.
The explosion occurred at the end of a concert by singer Ariana Grande.
The arena is owned by Mansford, a London-based investment firm, which bought the 22,000-seat venue from Patron Capital and U+I in 2013 for £82m.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This is an absolutely horrifying incident and our thoughts are with everyone affected, especially those who have lost loved ones or been injured and traumatised.
“If it is confirmed this was a terrorist attack it is monstrous act, but also a deeply futile one. Manchester is a proud, strong city and we will not allow terrorists who seek to sow fear and division to achieve their aims.
“We give heartfelt thanks to our emergency services for their response and council staff are doing all they can to support.”
Many in the city have been offering rooms and shelter as well as lifts to hospital and food to those affected via social media using the hashtag #roomformanchester.
Colliers International’s director of national offices, Peter Gallagher, tweeted that the company’s office on Chancery Place was offering desks for anyone locked out of their place of work.
Home secretary Amber Rudd said the city would be defiant in the face of terrorism as it had previously 20 years’ ago after an IRA bomb injured 200 people but brought the city together and brought about a wave of regeneration.
“The great city of Manchester has been affected by terrorism before. Its spirit was not bowed; its community continued.
“This time it has been a particular attack on the most vulnerable in our society – its intention was to sow fear – its intention is to divide. But it will not succeed.”
Manchester business leaders react
Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood, said: “Our thoughts are with all of those families affected by this terrible incident. Attacks like these are aimed at creating fear and breaking down our social fabric by dividing our communities. It is therefore important that, instead of playing into the terrorists’ hands, we pull together even more.
“Manchester has faced, and dealt with, terrorist threat and attacks in the past and it will deal with this one. It does so by civic, community and business groups pulling together and I am sure that we will emerge, once again, stronger as a city out of this adversity.
“Already we have seen the wonderful people of this city mobilising and there is nothing that stiffens my resolve more for our mission to make our great city regions greater than when things like this happen that threaten to undermine it.”
Tom Bloxham, chairman of Urban Splash, said: “This is so sad. Our thoughts go out to the victims and the families affected. This was an evil act, aimed at kids on a night out.
“Some colleagues were at the concert with their children, luckily they got home safely. Sadly Not everyone was so fortunate.
“I was at the town hall last night with Sir Richard Leese at a civic dinner, we were celebrating the way culture has helped create a diverse welcoming city. In his words this morning: ‘This was a monstrous attack but also a deeply futile one, Manchester is a proud, strong city and we will not allow terrorists who seek to sow fear and division achieve their aims.’
“Just as we did after the IRA bomb 11 years ago, the people and communities of Manchester will come together after this terrible act and defeat evil. We are waking up this morning with grief, but if the terrorists think hate will tear us apart, they’ve got the wrong city. We at Urban Splash stand by to give any help we can to those affected.”
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