#StandTogether: The Heroes of the Manchester Attack

The attack at the Manchester Arena differed from previous atrocities in London and even the 2015 attack on a Paris rock concert because it targeted the children and young teenagers who dominated Ariana Grande’s fans.

The attack in the lobby of the 21,000-capacity venue is now believed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber with a home-made bomb. There are reports of nuts and bolts known as “dockyard confetti” scattered across the arena floor, indicating a deliberate attempt to maim as many people as possible with flying shrapnel.

But after the violence came hope, and the stories of the heroes of Manchester quickly began to surface. And just as quickly it was clear that the killer’s dying wish of causing division and hatred had failed abysmally.

The Police

Ian Hopkins, the chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said this was the most horrific incident the city’s police had faced, with 400 armed officers deployed.

The last major terrorist attack on Manchester was a 1996 IRA truck bomb, which was the largest bomb detonated in the UK since WWII. It targeted infrastructure and economic damage so although 212 people were injured no one was killed.

Greater Manchester Police tweeted: “An emergency number is available for those who are concerned about loved ones or anyone who may have been in the area – 0161 856 9400”

NHS Staff

The North West Ambulance NHS Trust rapidly sent 60 ambulances to the arena and 59 victims were taken to six local hospitals.

The A&E Department of the Manchester Royal Infirmary was flooded by offers from off-duty staff willing to work but responded  that they were not to come to work unless instructed.

By 10am a queue had started to form outside the Manchester Blood Donor Centre. It stretched around the block by midday although medical sources announced that they had enough blood but would welcome more.

Paula Robinson and the Holiday Inn

All trains to and from the nearby Manchester Piccadilly station were cancelled leaving hundreds of terrified fans stranded. Shortly after the explosion a post from Paula Robinson on Facebook went viral on Twitter when she took more than 50 children who had attended the concert without guardians to the Holiday Inn, which was offering free shelter. She stayed with them to try and direct worried parents to their children.

Over the next few days we are sure to hear more stories of such individual efforts to help the thousands of teenagers in need.

Taxi Drivers

There are reports of a fleet of drivers travelling the 31 miles from Liverpool to join the effort to get concert fans home.

Taxi driver AJ Singh spoke to Channel 4 News about how he turned off his meter and put a “Free Taxi” sign on his car. “I’ve had people who needed to find loved ones. I dropped them to the hospital. They’ve not had any money. They’ve been stranded. There’s no transport. We should come out and show whoever has done this that it doesn’t matter because we’re glue and we stick together when it counts.”

Liverpool City Mayor Steve Rotheram told how his daughters were at the concert and were supposed to be picked up afterwards by a pre-booked taxi. When the taxi got stuck in the locked-down city centre the driver abandoned his car and walked to the Holiday Inn to find the girls, refusing to accept any payment on the grounds that it was just the right thing to do.

Chris Parker

The Metro reported that homeless Chris Parker, 33, usually begs for money outside the venue as crowds head home but when he heard the explosion his “gut instinct was to run back and help.” He helped an injured young girl before tending to a woman in her 60s who died in his arms.

#RoomforManchester

As soon as local residents were aware of the blast hundreds took to social media with offers of tea, cuddles and shelter using the hashtag #RoomforManchester.

Simon Clancy: “Anyone in Manchester who needs to wait for their parents or needs somewhere to stay or make phone calls, etc, just DM me. We have tea!”

Rachel Ellis: “If you need a bed, a cup of tea, a charged phone etc. – I’m 15 mins from Manchester Arena. DM me, they’re open! #RoomForManchester”

The next few days will see the terrible toll of the attack as the names of the dead and injured are released. But we will also learn about those who rose to the challenge in the middle of the night to help a wounded city.

by Stewart Vickers @VickHellfire

 

 

 

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