United in silence honoured with applause: Manchester's emotional tribute to those lost
MANCHESTER stood in silence for a minute this morning to remember the dead and then applauded loudly to show solidarity in the wake of the suicide bombing.
Public applauds following minute’s silence for Manchester victims
Mourners held a minute's silence in Manchester's St Ann's Square, which is located near the scene of the bombing at Manchester Arena on Monday.
During the minute's silence at 11am today, some of the crowd were seen sobbing while others held each other as the city remembered the 22 dead and many injured.
Hundreds standing in the square and surrounding streets as well as many thousands around the UK bowed their heads for the minute of sombre contemplation.
At the end of the silence, a loud applause erupted in a show of solidarity with the victims. One woman also started an impromtu singalong of Don't Look Back in Anger.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the Bishop of Manchester among the hundreds of mourners united by grief in St Ann's Square.
Manchester bombing victims remembered
Manchester bombing: Flowers and tributes in St Ann's Square in Manchester on Wednesday
Goosebumps! The amazing moment Manchester crowd joins in with woman singing Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger after minutes silence pic.twitter.com/Cw4mOq8yde
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) May 25, 2017
More people lined the streets near the packed-out square where flowers, candles and tributes have been left around a statue.
An eight-year-old girl and an off-duty policewoman were among the 22 dead. Many more were injured with about 20 people still in critical care.
Crowds gathered at famous sites across Britain, including London's Parliament and Trafalgar Squares and Manchester's Albert Square.
Flags will remain at half-mast on Whitehall government buildings until this evening.
Minute's silence: People stand in silence near the Monument in the City of London today
Leader Paul Nuttall launched Ukip's manifesto this morning, while other parties will go back to local door-knocking and leaflet-posting following the silence on Thursday.
The Conservatives and Labour are wait until Friday to resume their national campaigns.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The British people are united in our resolve that terror will not prevent us going about our daily lives or derail our democratic process.
“Resuming campaigning is an essential mark of our determination to defend the democracy and unity that the terrorists have sought to attack.”
The Prime Minister held another emergency Cobra meeting at 9.30am as police continue to investigate the network of suicide bomber Salman Abedi.