Manchester Arena Suicide Bombing (2017)
The Manchester Arena suicide bombing on May 22, 2017, was a tragic terrorist attack that occurred in Manchester, England, as concertgoers were departing from an Ariana Grande concert. A homemade bomb was detonated in the arena foyer, resulting in the deaths of 22 individuals, including the attacker, and injuring around 250 others. The explosion, which was powerful enough to kill people up to 65 feet away, caused widespread panic among the audience. The attacker, Salman Abedi, a British citizen of Libyan descent, was identified as the perpetrator, and although he had a prior police record for minor offenses, he was not previously considered a serious threat. Following the bombing, the city of Manchester displayed a strong sense of community as residents offered assistance to those affected, including free transportation and temporary housing for those stranded. The attack prompted significant discussions on counter-terrorism measures in the UK, particularly regarding homegrown threats. In a display of solidarity, Ariana Grande organized a benefit concert two weeks later, featuring notable artists to honor the victims and highlight the resilience of the Manchester community.
Manchester Arena Suicide Bombing (2017)
Date: May 22, 2017
Place: Manchester, England
Summary
The Manchester Arena suicide bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred at a large concert venue in Manchester, England, on May 22, 2017. As attendees were leaving the arena after a concert performed by American pop singer Ariana Grande, a homemade bomb was detonated in a foyer, killing 23 people (including the attacker) and injuring around 250.
Key Events
- March 22, 2017—Four people are killed after a man drives a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in London, England, before crashing the car into a fence outside of Westminster Palace and attacking and killing a guard; the suspect is shot and killed by police.
- May 22, 2017—A suicide bomber detonates a homemade device in a foyer of the Manchester Arena at the end of a well-attended Ariana Grande concert, killing twenty-two people and injuring hundreds more.
- June 3, 2017—Three men drive a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before getting out and stabbing patrons in Borough Market, leaving eight people dead and several more injured; all three attackers are shot and killed by police.
- June 4, 2017—Grande hosts a benefit concert, which includes performances from other high-profile musicians such as Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Coldplay, at an outdoor arena in Manchester to raise funds for victims of the May 22 attack.
- September 9, 2017—Manchester Arena reopens with a benefit concert.
Status
English authorities and citizens were concerned with efforts to combat terrorism, especially homegrown terrorism, following the string of attacks that occurred in the country in such a short amount of time between March and June 2017. Prime Minister Theresa May continued to emphasize the need for better methods of fighting extremist propaganda and preventing further attacks. Manchester Arena remained closed for several months, reconstructing the damaged foyer, before reopening on September 9, 2017, for a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other English musicians.
In-Depth Overview
On May 22, 2017, American pop singer Ariana Grande was performing for a crowd of thousands of fans at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. With a capacity of 21,000, the Manchester Arena is the largest indoor venue in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe.
While concertgoers exited the main arena upon the event’s conclusion into a foyer around 10:30 p.m., a homemade bomb exploded, killing the bomber and twenty-two people in the space. The bomb was filled with bolts and other metal objects, which acted as shrapnel. Coroners reported that people as far as 20 meters (approximately 65 feet) away from the bomber were killed by the improvised explosive device. The loud explosion was heard throughout the arena, causing the audience to panic and try to flee the facility.
The building was damaged, as was the Manchester Victoria railway station adjacent to the stadium; the station remained closed until May 30, 2017, when repairs were completed. In the aftermath of the bombing, the city of Manchester came together to provide services to the victims. Taxi companies offered free transportation to those left at the arena, and residents opened their homes to accommodate those stranded or separated from their group. Much of this was arranged on Twitter using the hashtag #roomformanchester. Because of the panic after the explosion, many parents and children were separated. Hotels nearby opened their doors to allow children and parents to safely reconnect, with local police assisting to coordinate these efforts.
Manchester police investigated a suspicious package in Cathedral Gardens later that night, but a controlled explosion confirmed the item was nothing more than clothing left behind. The Greater Manchester Police concluded their investigation and declared the attack a suicide bombing and a terrorist attack. Salman Abedi, a British citizen of Libyan descent, was identified as the bomber. According to some sources, he was known to the police for petty crimes but had not been noted as a threat in the past. Abedi’s brother was arrested in relation to the attack, along with at least twenty others. All of those detained related to the investigation were released without charge. Authorities originally believed that Abedi had acted alone but later announced that, though they could not prove he was officially part of a terrorist network, they were investigating whether others had been aware of his intentions. They were also looking further into whether Abedi had any solid connections to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a terrorist organization based in Syria. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, but intelligence authorities, including those from the United States, were unable to verify this claim.
Grande first responded to the attack on Twitter, stating that she felt “broken.” Her tweet became one of the most liked of all time, with nearly three million people reacting. Two weeks after the bombing, Grande returned to Manchester to perform at a benefit concert for the victims and to celebrate Manchester’s resilience, along with famous performers including Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus, and more. Grande and Coldplay sang a rendition of English band Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back in Anger” in tribute to the victims, following a viral video of a crowd singing the song at an earlier memorial service.
Key Figures
Salman Abedi: British citizen of Libyan descent who carried out the suicide attack at Manchester Arena.
Ariana Grande: American pop singer who performed at Manchester Arena the night of the attack.
Theresa May: Prime minister of England.
Bibliography
Manchester Arena reopens for bombing victims’ benefit concert. (2017, September 9). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/09/manchester-arena-reopens-benefit-concert-noel-gallagher-rick-astley
Manchester attack: What we know so far. (2017, June 12). BBC.Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-40008389
Pidd, H. (2017, June 9). Manchester Arena bomb was designed to kill largest number of innocents. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/09/manchester-arena-bomb-designed-kill-largest-number-innocents
Smith, R., & Chan, S. (2017, May 22). Ariana Grande Manchester concert ends in explosion, panic and death. The New York Times.Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/world/europe/ariana-grande-manchester-police.html
Trapper, J., & Pidd, H. (2017, June 4). Ariana Grande concert in tribute to Manchester attack victims will go ahead, police say. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/03/one-love-manchester-tribute-show-ariana-grande