Bomb survivor’s ‘hardest day’ returning to Manchester Arena

The venue in Manchester where a suicide bomber struck in May, killing 22 people, will re-open today (Saturday, September 9)Less than four months after the tragedy, which took place after an Ariana Grande concert, music will once again be heard at Manchester Arena.Many of the victims were young girls, who make up a large part of Grande’s fan base; the youngest, Saffie Roussos, was just eight years old.Parents who had come to pick up their children after the show were also among those killed in the attack carried out by Salman Abedi.The venue will re-open with a benefit concert that aims to raise money for a charitable trust in charge of establishing a permanent memorial in the northern English city.The line-up for Saturday’s concert, which was sold out, included Noel Gallagher, formerly of Oasis, one of the most successful bands to emerge from Manchester.Also performing will be local poet Tony Walsh, known as Longfella, who moved crowds to tears at a vigil in central Manchester the day after the attack with his poem “This Is The Place” which celebrates the spirit of the city.