In the aftermath of the Manchester Arena terror attack, police have named the first victim.
Georgina Callander, aged 18, was attending an Ariana Grande concert at the Central Manchester venue last night when a suicide bomber attacked the revellers minutes after the gig ended at 10:35pm.
Police have confirmed she did not survive the attack. Georgina is the first named victim of this cowardly atrocity. The latest fatality count stands at 22 people. Police have confirmed that at least 56 are injured.
Georgina was described by a friend as ‘a beautiful girl with the kindest heart and soul’.
The teenager had tweeted on Sunday that she was ‘so excited’ to see Ariana Grande.
Since her tragic and untimely death, her friends and family have paid tribute to Georgina on social media:
Manchester is now in mourning during the aftermath of this heinous crime.
Footage from the scene of the attack shows concert-goers covered in blood and fleeing in horror moments after the suicide bombing took place. Police have confirmed the perpetrator died at the scene.
Bomb disposal units were called to Manchester Arena and the surrounding vicinity, along with riot police and a fleet of emergency service vehicles, who treated those injured.
Authorities conducted a controlled explosion of a further ‘suspect device’ which was found close by in Cathedral Gardens. Manchester Victoria station, situated next to the arena, was on lock down and all travel was suspended.
A social media appeal #roomforanchester was immediately launched to house those stranded by the chaos, showing the resilience of Manchester locals.
Many youngsters were in attendance at the Manchester leg of Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman tour, and reports described how terrified children were spilt up from their families amid the attack.
Ariana Grande has since cancelled the remainder of her European tour and shared a heart-breaking message with her fans on Twitter:
An emergency number is available for all those concerned about their loved ones. That number is 0161 856 9400.
Our thoughts are with Georgina’s family at this time and anyone else who has been affected by this devastating attack on our lives and our civil liberties.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.