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Manchester Met student shares first hand experience of the Manchester Arena attack

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Image: Northern Quota


Manchester Metropolitan University journalism student Alicia Hattersley was just one of the 21,000 attendees of last night’s Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena where minutes after the headline show had ended at around 10:30, what is believed to be an improvised explosive device was detonated.

Currently there are 22 confirmed dead with 59 injured being treated at eight Manchester hospitals.

Alicia told the Northern Quota:

“The concert had literally just ended. Ariana had been off stage for all of a minute. We stood up ready to leave and there was a massive bang the loudest noise I have ever heard in my life, my ears are still ringing.

“Me and my friend were under the seats trying to hide, and then all of a sudden everyone shouted “run” so we sprung up and ran to the stairs where thousands of people were running.”

“The scene was chaos. I have never seen or heard anything like it. You don’t think it is something you will witness in your lifetime. There were people screaming and sheer panic because nobody knew what the full extent was or what was happening.”

Greater Manchester Police are requesting people avoid the Manchester City Centre, while emergency services continue to investigate the attack with their current priority being to “establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.”

Anybody concerned about friends or loved ones can call 0161 856 9400. This number is specifically for people looking for anybody who might have been caught up in the attack. Victorian Station and a number of roads remain closed.

Anybody affected by last night’s events can contact the Manchester Met Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service on 0161 247 3493 or visit mmu.ac.uk/counselling/crisis/

You can read Alicia’s full account published on the Northern Quota.

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