Cheers drowned out tears in Manchester on Sunday as Ariana Grande was joined by fellow music stars for a charity concert where fans vowed to face down fears of terrorism after two deadly attacks in Britain.
“Let the world hear your resilience,” Pharrell Williams told a sell-out crowd of 50,000 who had gathered to remember victims of a May 22 suicide bomb attack on Grande’s concert in the city.
The hastily-organized “One Love Manchester” event became one of the biggest single gatherings of musical talent this year, as stars lined-up for the concert dedicated to the 22 people killed and 116 injured, many of them children.
Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Robbie Williams, Take That, Liam Gallagher and Little Mix were among those who hit the stage, as fans held “We stand together” and “For our angels” signs.
Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford opened the show after the crowd fell silent for a minute.
Less than 24 hours before the concert got underway, Britain was rocked by another terrorist attack, in central London, in which seven people were killed and 48 injured.
Grande tweeted “Praying for London” while her manager Scooter Braun said the concert would go ahead “with greater purpose.”
Fans flocked to the Old Trafford cricket ground for the show, many of them with tears rolling down their cheeks during the performances.
In one heartfelt moment, Grande was joined on stage by children from a local school, some of whom were at the targeted Manchester Arena concert, as the group performed her hit song “My Everything.”
Grande and Coldplay’s Chris Martin performed “Don’t look back in anger,” the track by Manchester Britpop band Oasis which crowds sang during vigils in the days following the bombing.
Additional security measures were put in place for the concert, with police warning that everyone would be searched.
“We’re here to show our support to Manchester more than anything. These people aren’t going to dampen our spirits,” said 34-year-old Abdullah Mala.
His eight-year-old daughter Hannah had left the Grande concert just before the deadly bombing and said she was “happy to be back” to see some of pop’s biggest names.

Source: Arab News