Following the terrorist attack in Manchester yesterday (22 May), in which 22 people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed and 59 people have been injured, the fundraising platform JustGiving has set up an emergency appeal fund with the British Red Cross to support the victims and their families.
On May 22, just after 22:30 local time, an explosive device was detonated at the Manchester Arena. At the time the venue was emptying following an Ariana Grande concert, and it is believed that a suicide bomber was responsible for the blast in the foyer, killing at least 22 people and injuring many more.
In the aftermath of the attack, people responded by creating over 150 JustGiving crowdfunding pages to raise money to help those affected, including a JustGiving page set up by the Manchester Evening News which has raised £400,000 from over 10,000 supporters since the page was created at 07:53 this morning.
Since then, the British Red Cross in association with We Love MCR, the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s’ charity have established the Manchester Emergency Fund to support the victims and their families. JustGiving, in condolence and support of the victims following the largest terrorist incident since 7/7 bombings has donated £50,000 to the appeal.
Speaking this morning, the Prime Minster Theresa May said the bombing in Manchester was one of the worst terror attacks ever in the UK and the worst in the north of England.
“We struggle to comprehend the warped and twisted mind that sees a room packed with young children not as a scene to cherish but as an opportunity for carnage.
“But we can continue to resolve to thwart such attacks in future. To take on the ideology that often fuels this violence.
“And if there turn out to be others responsible for the attack to seek them out and bring them to justice.”
The first two victims to be named are eight-year-old Saffie Roussos who was a pupil at Tarleton Primary school in Lancashire and eighteen-year-old Georgina Callander who was studying social care at Runshaw College in Leyland Lancashire.
The Queen held a minute’s silence at Buckingham Palace at 16:00.
Rhys Goode, spokesperson for JustGiving, said: “Following this devastating and cowardly attack, it speaks volumes that the people of Manchester and across the UK have rallied to support the victims, their families and friends in their hour of need. This shows just how strong people’s resolve is not to be cowed in the face of terror.”
To support the appeal, please visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/redcross/ManchesterEmergencyFund
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About JustGiving
JustGiving is the world’s leading social platform for giving, enabling over 20 million people across 164 countries to raise $4.2 billion since 2001. As a tech-for-good company, JustGiving re-invests all its profits into the development of world-class technology and innovative tools to fulfil its mission to connect people with the causes they care about.
