Manchester Remembers
Manchester has come together to remember the 2nd anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.
Last updated 30th May 2019
Singer Ariana Grande has led social media tributes to the victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack two years on.
Twenty-two people were murdered at the venue when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device in the foyer at the end of the singer's show.
Marking the anniversary, Grande simply posted a bee emoji - the worker bee being a symbol of Manchester - to her Instagram story.
The singer organised and performed at the One Love concert in June 2017 to raise money for the emergency fund launched following the attack, and has regularly spoken since about the trauma of events that night.
As many people posted messages remembering the attack, the hashtags #OneLoveManchester, #ManchesterRemembers and #WeStandTogether were all trending on Twitter across the United Kingdom.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham tweeted a picture including the names of the victims.
He added the words " Today is a day to remember, to reflect & to recommit to all those whose lives changed on 22/5/17.
We will always be there for you."
Thousands of handmade hearts have also been left in St Ann's Square for people in the city to take to help them remember the 22 lives lost.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also posted a message of solidarity.
We will never be divided by terrorism & hate. "#manchestertogether" he wrote.
Dan Hett, whose brother Martyn was killed in the attack, thanked people for their kind words'' and said he would be attending a memorial.
"Thanks for the kind words already, all," he wrote. I'm trying not to post old photos or wistful platitudes today.
I'm going to do the school run, go to a memorial thing, then I'll probably get drunk and cry with a bunch of people later. This is every year now I guess. Stay okay.''
Both Manchester United and Manchester City paid their respects on Twitter with images of the Manchester bee.
This City Remembers"Man City posted, while Man United tweeted:#ManchesterTogether: then, now and forever."
Local emergency services also sent messages of support to those affected.
The North West Ambulance Service tweeted: If this brings back distressing thoughts or memories, don't hesitate to ask for some support.''
Greater Manchester Police wrote of the victims: "Our thoughts will always be with their families and all those injured or affected.''
May 22 also marks the anniversary of the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby in 2013.
The 25-year-old serviceman was walking near his barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, when he was rammed with a car before his attackers attempted to behead him.
The killers were jailed at the Old Bailey in February 2014.