Manchester holds mass singalong for arena victims on anniversary of attack
Oasis and Take That songs feature in a communal singalong, before bells ring out to mark the exact moment of the attack.
Wednesday 23 May 2018 00:05, UK
Thousands of people have marked a year since the Manchester attack by singing together to Oasis, Take That and Ariana Grande songs at a remembrance event in the city.
Albert Square hosted the Manchester Together - With One Voice event, as a day of remembrance for the 22 who died in the arena bombing drew to a close.
A choir of survivors from the attack were among those who performed, with one young member of the group in tears during the emotional performance.
Other performances included Oasis hit Wonderwall, by Manchester's lesbian and gay chorus choir, and a group of emergency services staff singing Bridge Over Troubled Water.
The event, on a warm evening in Manchester, ended with a half-hour crowd singalong.
Noel Gallagher appeared on screen to introduce Don't Look Back In Anger - the track that became so popular in the days after the attack as a song of hope and defiance.
People sang the anthemic chorus at the top of their voices as the city showed the same spirit and resilience that it displayed in the aftermath of the bombing.
Elbow's One Day Like This followed, then Grande's One Last Time.
Take That's Never Forget followed as members of the crowd embraced and held their hands in the air - before The Beatles' All You Need Is Love rounded things off.
Around an hour and a half later, at 10.31pm, bells on Manchester Town Hall, St Ann's Church, and St Mary's RC Church rang to mark the time the bomb went off one year ago.
The commemorations began in the afternoon when Prince William and Theresa May attended a remembrance service at Manchester Cathedral, and were joined by the families and friends of those killed.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable were also there.
The attack happened a year ago, when Salman Abedi blew himself up in the foyer after a concert by Ariana Grande.
The blast killed 22 people and 800 others were physically or psychologically injured.
US pop star Grande tweeted: "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."
A minute's silence took place at 2.30pm and was marked across the country.
Prince Harry, carrying out his first public engagement as a married man, also remembered the victims during a speech in London.
With his wife and father looking on, he paid tribute to the "amazing work" of the emergency services and those who responded on the night.
He added: "Our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and those still dealing with the experiences of that night."
People laid flowers and cards in St Ann's Square, which became a focal point for mourners after the attack.
More than 7,000 handmade stitched hearts were also been dotted around Manchester city centre, with people encouraged to take them as part of the social media campaign #aheart4mcr.
And thousands of members of the public have written messages of support on cardboard tags, attaching them to 28 "Trees of Hope" that form a trail from St Ann's Square to Victoria Station.