Manchester’s attack was an act of evil hate. But the reaction was a tide of goodness, of free rooms, hugs, taxis and cups of tea. Isn’t this the real story that we should all focus on?
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‘Small acts of kindness’ follow city’s attack
Manchester's attack was an act of evil hate. But the reaction was a tide of goodness, of free rooms, hugs, taxis and cups of tea. Isn't this the real story that we should all focus on?
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Chris Parker has been sleeping rough for around a year. On Monday night he was begging inside the foyer of Manchester Arena, when he heard a terrible bang. A white flash of light. He was knocked backwards. He heard screaming.
A suicide bomberThe man responsible has been identified as a 22-year-old named Salmen Ramadan Abedi. The police do not yet know if he was working alone or if he had help. had detonated a "homemade" device at the end of the Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 peopleStudies link eating too much red meat with a higher risk of heart disease and cancer..
But Parker did not run from the chaos. "My gut instinct was to run back and try and help," he told Press Association yesterday. He found a lost girl and wrapped her in a t-shirt. Later, he held a woman in her 60s as she passed away. "I haven't stopped crying," he said.
Meanwhile, Paula Robinson had been inside Manchester Victoria railway station, which is next door to the arena, when she felt the blast. She then saw teenage girls running from the venue. She led them to safety at a nearby hotel, and posted their location on social media for worried parents. "We will look after them," she wrote.
As news of the violence spread, locals took to TwitterA social media network, now known as X and owned by Elon Musk. to offer spare rooms, car rides or hot drinks to stranded fans using the hashtag #RoomforManchester. "I just wanna help people if they need it!" wrote one user, Jesy.
Taxi driversSam Arshad, of StreetCars Manchester, was also interviewed about his decision to ask his drivers to give free lifts. "Money isn't everything in life and we're part of Manchester and we need to do our part to make sure these people get home safe and sound." began offering free rides in the city centre. "I've had people who needed to find loved ones. I've dropped them off to the hospital," said AJ Singh. "We're glue and we stick together when it counts."
Throughout yesterday, stories of human kindness flooded in. The city was in mourning, but its citizens were queuing up to donate bloodEventually the NHS said that it had enough blood to deal with the crisis, and asked people only to attend if they had pre-booked an appointment. at local blood banks. Families and cafes were handing out free food and drinks to emergency services. The Manchester Evening News set up a crowdfunder which raised over £500,000 for families of the victims in just 24 hours.
"While we experienced the worst of humanity in Manchester last night, we also saw the best," said Prime Minister Theresa May. "The attempt to divide us met countless acts of kindness that brought people closer together."
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Should these stories, rather than death and destruction, have appeared on front pages today?
Yes, say some. The people we should be thinking about today are the attack's victims, and the everyday heroes who helped them. Why should newspapers focus on the actions of one evil person, when hundreds more revealed the true goodness of humanity? This story is not "Manchester attacked", it is "Manchester responds with kindness."
That is a nice thought, say others, but it is not how the news works. Yes, the world is full of good people - but that is what makes the attacker's actions all the more terrible. It is natural for people to want to understand who he was, what made him do this, and how to stop it from happening again.
Keywords
Suicide bomber - The man responsible has been identified as a 22-year-old named Salmen Ramadan Abedi. The police do not yet know if he was working alone or if he had help.
People - Studies link eating too much red meat with a higher risk of heart disease and cancer.
Twitter - A social media network, now known as X and owned by Elon Musk.
Taxi drivers - Sam Arshad, of StreetCars Manchester, was also interviewed about his decision to ask his drivers to give free lifts. "Money isn't everything in life and we're part of Manchester and we need to do our part to make sure these people get home safe and sound."
Donate blood - Eventually the NHS said that it had enough blood to deal with the crisis, and asked people only to attend if they had pre-booked an appointment.
‘Small acts of kindness’ follow city’s attack
Glossary
Suicide bomber - The man responsible has been identified as a 22-year-old named Salmen Ramadan Abedi. The police do not yet know if he was working alone or if he had help.
People - Studies link eating too much red meat with a higher risk of heart disease and cancer.
Twitter - A social media network, now known as X and owned by Elon Musk.
Taxi drivers - Sam Arshad, of StreetCars Manchester, was also interviewed about his decision to ask his drivers to give free lifts. "Money isn't everything in life and we're part of Manchester and we need to do our part to make sure these people get home safe and sound."
Donate blood - Eventually the NHS said that it had enough blood to deal with the crisis, and asked people only to attend if they had pre-booked an appointment.