Manchester attack

Not even in their wildest imagination could Ariana Grande’s fans have predicted that a concert by the US singer who famously describes herself as “a dangerous woman” could be the backdrop of Britain’s deadliest terror attack since 2005. By the time security officials in Manchester battened down the hatches and accounted for all the victims outside the concert arena, the number of those killed reached 22 while the number of the injured crossed 50. At least one child was counted among the dead. The attack, described as one inflicted by a suicide bomber, came barely two weeks before a snap general election was due to be held. Even though the time chosen for the attack may ultimately have little to do with the bombing, Britain is clearly left rattled and shocked. All election campaigning has been suspended as a result. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombing and has threatened more bloodshed.

Experts have drawn comparisons between the Manchester bombing and the 2015 Bataclan attack in France owing perhaps to the fact that both occurred in and around concert halls. Security officials, however, suspect the attacker may have been trying to target more children, exploiting the fact that Grande’s concerts are a big draw for young girls, teenagers and accompanying adults. The latest attack has sparked fears among education officials in Manchester that schoolchildren, in particular, would be left scarred and suffer the long-lasting effects of trauma.

The mayor of Manchester summoned the trademark British virtue of stoicism that through the years has helped the country deal with acts of terrorism. Terrorism only works when the perpetrator is confident that he or she has succeeded in disrupting normal lives and has driven people into the depths of despair. In recent years, Britain has shown remarkable compassion and resilience as well as the will to turn the moment of terror into an opportunity for caring for the victims.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2017.

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