Station reopens after bomb blast
Print Edition
A TRAIN station next to the scene of last week’s suicide bombing in Manchester reopened yesterday for the first time since the carnage in which 22 people were killed.
Fifty patients are still being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the attack, including 17 who are in critical care, the health authority said yesterday.
The suicide bombing at a pop concert venue killed 22 children and adults, and a total of 116 people received hospital treatment.
“We Will Remember You,” read signs accompanied by heart images and surrounded by floral tributes at Manchester Victoria station as services resumed.
“Tragically taken away. But never to be forgotten,” read a note left by Transport Minister Chris Grayling at a morning ceremony, while Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wrote: “We will always stand with you.”
“I think it will take a long time to get back to normal. There’s still a weird feeling, you know, armed police, a lot of unease,” said 59-year-old David Keys as he got off a train. Sharon Glyn, 48, said she felt “goosebumps” as her train pulled into the station, while 29-year-old Andrew Shivas said: “Can’t let them win.”
The station is connected to the Manchester Arena, one of Europe’s biggest indoor venues, by a covered space that was the scene of Monday’s blast.
Bomber a university dropout
Most of the victims were young people attending a concert by US pop idol Ariana Grande, which had just finished, and parents waiting to meet their children.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The bomber has been identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, a Manchester-born university dropout of Libyan origin who reportedly fought in the Libyan conflict to topple former leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Abedi’s brother Hashem and fathe Ramadan have been arrested in Libya, where authorities say the two brothers were both IS jihadists. Fourteen more people are being held in Britain and police have released a security camera image of Abedi carrying a blue suitcase, appealing for any information about where Abedi might have been with the luggage.
Britain’s terror threat level was raised to maximum in the wake of the attack but lowered over the weekend, while soldiers deployed to assist police were pulled back.
Police say they have uncovered a “large part” of the network behind the attack but questions have intensified over apparent intelligence failures in identifying Abedi as a potential threat.
Prime Minister Theresa May has also been criticized for drastic cuts in police numbers during her time as home secretary.
Manchester has seen several inter-faith vigils and shows of defiance in recent days, as well as calls for calm following a sharp rise in hate crimes.
Former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher said proceeds from his show in the city last night would go to an Red Cross-supported appeal that has already raised millions of pounds.
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