Manchester stands united after terrorist attack

A still reticence shrouded Manchester this May as it marked the first anniversary of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack that killed 22 people. Throughout the UK, a minute's silence was observed to remember those affected by the bomb explosion on 22 May 2017, as singer Ariana Grande performed.

The worst terrorist attack since the London bombings in 2005, it is believed that more than 800 people suffered physical or psychological injuries. Among those in quiet reflection on the 1-year anniversary were members of the emergency services and NHS staff who attended to the injured.

Following the tragic event and aftermath, a non-statutory independent review was commissioned by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham (Kerslake, 2018). The review aimed to establish the preparedness of the city for an attack of this nature and consider how it responded to the incident.

The report said there was much to be proud of in the response to the attack. Ambulance staff were rapidly on scene, with the first North West Ambulance Services (NWAS) paramedic arriving at 10:42 pm, less than 10 minutes after the explosion was reported to Greater Manchester Police. In total, 56 ambulances and seven rapid response vehicles were deployed to the arena, along with six advanced paramedics and three consultant paramedics.