MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — Parents were searching desperately on Tuesday for children caught up in the attack on a pop concert in the British city of Manchester, after police confirmed youngsters were among the 22 victims.
Screaming fans fled the venue after the bomb blast at the end of a concert by US star Ariana Grande, who is popular among teens and pre-teens.
Charlotte Campbell called hospitals, police and set up an appeal on social media before calling radio and television networks to try to find her 15-year-old daughter Olivia.
“She was with her friend Adam — Adam was found about half an hour ago, he’s in hospital but Olivia has not been found yet,” she told BBC radio.
“Her dad is actually in Manchester looking for her. I’ve got friends out looking for her, I’ve got people I don’t even know out looking for her.
“I’m just hearing nothing — her phone’s dead.”
Two hotels near the Manchester Arena venue took in stranded children while residents opened their doors to stranded concert-goers after trains were cancelled.
A support center was also set up at football club Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium across the road.
Many people took to social media to find their loved ones, including Dawn Finnigan, who sought help to locate her friend’s 17-year-old daughter Chloe and her boyfriend Liam.
“They left just before Ariane Grande’s last song, according to someone behind them,” she tweeted.
Another Twitter user, Lauren Dale, posted: “My mum’s friend Alison Howe and her friend are still missing from the MEN (Manchester Arena) attack last night. Please contact me if you hear anything.”
Videos posted on social media showed thousands youngsters fleeing from the arena, situated in the north of Manchester city center, in a state of panic and confusion as sirens rang out from emergency services.
Andy Holey was hit by the impact of the blast when he arrived to collect his wife and daughter.
“An explosion went off and it threw me about 30 foot from one set of doors to the other set of doors,” he told the BBC.
“When I got up I saw bodies lying on the ground. My first thought was to go into the arena to try to find my family. I managed to find them eventually and they’re OK.
“It was definitely an explosion and it was some force. It happened near the box office at the entrance to the arena.”
Elena Semino, was waiting for her 17-year-old daughter by the arena’s ticket office when the explosion occurred, injuring her.
“There was heat on my neck and when I looked up there were bodies everywhere,” she told The Guardian newspaper.
Cheryl McDonald, who went with her nine-year-old daughter, told Sky News television: “I’ve never been so scared in my life. My daughter is very, very shocked.”
McDonald broke down as she described a “devastating” scene, saying the venue was “full of children.”
Gary Walker, who had been waiting for his daughters, was hit by shrapnel in his leg, while his wife was hurt in the stomach.
“Someone came through the doors then bang,” he told BBC radio.
His daughter Abigail said: “I had to make sure I had my sister. I grabbed hold of her and pulled hard. Everyone was running and crying.
“It was absolutely terrifying.”
Emma Johnson and her husband were at the arena to pick up their 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter.
“We were stood at the top of the stairs and the glass exploded. It was near to where they were selling the merchandise. The whole building shook,” she told the BBC.
“There was a blast and then a flash of fire afterwards. We obviously then run to try and find our children and fortunately for us we were all safe to tell the story.” — AFP
