Tuesday 30 May 2017

Manchester attacks: Justin Bieber, Coldplay, other stars to join Ariana Grande for gig


Justin Bieber, Coldplay and Katy Perry are among the stars who will join Ariana Grande at a tribute concert following the Manchester attack.

The concert will be held less than two weeks after 22 people were killed by a suicide attack as people left Grande’s show at Manchester Arena.

The 23-year-old US singer will perform at the Old Trafford cricket ground on Sunday.

The venue has a 50,000 capacity and the gig will be live on BBC TV and radio.

Others performing include Take That, One Direction’s Niall Horan, Miley Cyrus, Usher and Pharrell.

Proceeds will go to the We Love Manchester emergency fund.

Seven children were among the victims who died when Salman Abedi detonated a bomb on 22 May.

Grande suspended her Dangerous Woman tour, including cancelling two shows at London’s O2 Arena, following the attack.

But she had promised to return to Manchester, saying: “I don’t want to go the rest of the year without being able to see and hold and uplift my fans”.

“I’ll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honour and raise money for the victims and their families.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins told BBC Radio Manchester: “When the idea of the concert came up, my first reaction was, we need to speak to the families of the victims and see what they feel.

“It’s fair to say that the majority of them are very much in favour, there are some that clearly aren’t and that is absolutely understandable.”

After the attack, the singer posted her condolences on Twitter, saying: “Broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.”

Fifty people injured in the attack were still being treated in hospital – including 17 in critical care.

Manchester Victoria station reopened on Tuesday. The station, which is connected to Manchester Arena, suffered structural damage in the incident.

Police say their investigation into the attack is “making good progress” and has around 1,000 people working on it.

In total 16 people have been arrested – but a woman and a 16-year-old boy were later released without charge, reports the BBC.

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