NICOLA Sturgeon joined Prime Minister Theresa May, the Duke of Cambridge and Jeremy Corbyn in remembering the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena suicide bombing one year on.
They gathered with some of the hundreds of those injured in the explosion, and the families of those killed, at a remembrance service at Manchester Cathedral.
Sturgeon tweeted: “A beautiful and very moving service in @ManCathedral to remember the 22 people whose lives were taken a year ago, and to show our support for those who loved them and to those who were injured. The strength and dignity of Manchester shone through it.”
A national minute’s silence was also held and the service was shown live on screens outside the cathedral and at York Minster, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral.
Well-wishers laid bouquets and cards in St Ann’s Square in Manchester, which became a focal point for mourners in the wake of the terrorist attack. Thousands of messages of support on cardboard tags had been attached to 28 Japanese maple trees which form the Trees of Hope trail from the square to the main rail station. More than 7000 handmade stitched hearts had been dotted around the city centre.
Pop star Ariana Grande, whose concert had just finished when the bomb went off, posted on Twitter: “Thinking of you all today and every day. I love you with all of me and am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day.”
In the evening, more than 3000 singers from local choirs took part in a Manchester Together – With One Voice event. They included Manchester Survivors Choir, made up of people who were at the arena on the night of the fateful concert.
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