Manchester Arena Attack: how you can help

A horrific attack took place in Manchester last night, but the city and its people has shown resilience in the face of terror. Here's how you can help in the aftermath

Feature by The Skinny | 23 May 2017

Last night a bomb detonated inside the Manchester Arena at the end of Ariana Grande's concert at the venue. Police have confirmed 22 people have been killed as a result of the blast, with 50 more injured. Many of the attendees at the concert were children and young people; police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.

In the face of this heartbreaking news, Manchester’s emergency services, businesses and residents have reacted with strength and unity. Throughout last night and the early morning, Twitter has been full of reports of people's generosity and support. City centre residents have been offering up their homes to victims of the blast, several hotels opened their doors to help shelter people and allow separated family members to reunite, and the city's taxi drivers have been offering their services for free to help people get home.

Below is information we’ve gleaned from reliable sources on ways you can help and take action following this devastating and cowardly attack.

Attend tonight's vigil in Albert Square

A vigil paying respects to the 22 people who have been killed in the attack will take place at Albert Square tonight, 6pm.

Pass information to Greater Manchester Police

If you were at the Manchester Arena last night, or were in the vicinity, and have any information that may help police in their investigation you can contact the anti-terrorist hotline, 0800 789321, or the emergency hotline set up for the Manchester Arena blast, 0161 856 9400. The latest statement from Greater Manchester Police on the Manchester Arena Attack is below:

Help find people who are still missing

A hotline has been set up for anyone concerned about loved ones who may not have returned home. Families and friends can ring 0161 856 9400 or 0161 856 9900. You can also help spread the word by sharing posts on Twitter using the #missingmanchester hashtag, which is currently being used to circulate images of the people who are still unaccounted for.

Last night many of Manchester's city centre hotels acted as hubs for those who had become separated from friends or relatives; call GM Police if a friend or relative is still missing. 

Immediate care for victims of last night's attack

The Red Cross has tweeted that "their staff and volunteers are currently providing practical and emotional support to people at the Etihad stadium in Manchester." Donate to the Red Cross to help them keep up the good work.

Immediate support for people affected by last night's attack

Children's bereavement charity Once Upon A Smile have a dedicated phone line available for anyone affected by the evening's event. More details on their website here.

Giving blood

There is no immediate need to rush out and give blood at this time. “We have all the blood required for hospital patients at the present time", say Give Blood NHS on Twitter

However, the NHS do say that “If you have an appointment to give blood in the next few days, please do your best to keep it, particularly if you are blood group O negative.”

Avoid spreading misinformation

In the aftermath of events such as this, it can be tough to get to the truth, especially on social media. Buzzfeed's Jim Waterson is compiling a list of debunked or disproven news stories relating to the night's events – find the list here. [Note: an earlier version of this post featured an erroneous tweet purporting to show missing attendees from last night's gig – thanks to those who let us know, and apologies for proving our own point about the importance of sourcing.]

Mark yourself as safe on Facebook

The social network has activated its 'safety check' function, allowing users in and around Manchester to notify their friends and family that they're OK. You can also use the feature to check up on friends if you haven't heard from them.