Manchester Arena Suicide Bombing: 8 Year Old & 18 Year Old Girls Identified as Victims
Twenty two people including children were killed and at least 59 people injured in a suspected terror attack in Manchester Arena at an Ariana Grande concert late on Monday night, May 22, 2017.
The Manchester Arena is in the city center, two miles north of Manchester United‘s Old Trafford and two miles west of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
The likes of local club Manchester City, its captain Vincent Kompany and England football legend Gary Lineker, and others took to social media to express sympathy and support for the victims of the tragedy.
Sadly, 18-year-old, Georgina Bethany Callander has been named as the first confirmed victim of the terror attack. The teenager was one of 22 people killed by the blast as she left the concert by Ariana Grande Manchester Arena, London.
On Saturday, Georgina who had met Ariana Grande two years ago at a concert tweeted that she was so excited to see Ariana.
Saffie Rose Rousse, an 8-year-old schoolgirl was also named as the second victim of the attack. The youngster was at pop singer, Ariana Grande‘s concert with her mother, Lisa and sister, Ashleee when a suicide bomber struck outside the Arena, Telegraph reports.
Her family had been frantically trying to trace the little girl following the blast at 10.30pm last night. Sadly, Lancashire County Council have now confirmed the little girl from Leyland in Lancashire was killed.
Her grieving headteacher Chris Upton, at Tarleton Community Primary School, paid tribute to the “beautiful little girl”.
“Saffie was simply a beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word. She was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly. Saffie was quiet and unassuming with a creative flair.”
Mr Upton said the news of her death had come as a “tremendous shock”, adding: “The thought that anyone could go out to a concert and not come home is heartbreaking.”
“Our focus is now on helping pupils and staff cope with this shocking news and we have called in specialist support from Lancashire County Council to help us do that.
“We are a tight-knit school and wider community and will give each other the support that we need at this difficult time,” he added.
Luckily, her mum and sister are both now in separate hospitals being treated for injuries, friends said.
Some 240 calls were made to the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reporting an explosion around 10.33pm Monday night, at the Arena in the city centre.
The incident occurred at the exit near the box office, close to the tunnel which links the arena with Manchester Victoria station, and came as thousands of people were leaving the venue.
GMP in a statement posted on Twitter said:
”Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena. There are a number of confirmed fatalities and others injured. Please AVOID the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene. Details of a casualty bureau will follow as soon as possible.”
Photo credit: Getty/Twitter/Instagram
OMG! May their souls RIP. Amen. #iprayformanchester.
May their soul RIP….terrible
This is so heart wrenching.
sad