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| The MEN Arena in 2006 Photo: public domain |
Manchester-born singer-pianist Jeremy Sassoon shares an initial reaction to the atrocities at the MEN Arena last night:
Manchester. Our city. Our vibrant music city. Another 21,000 sell-out night at the largest indoor arena in the UK. Most of us have watched gigs there, been through the foyer, traversed that walkway, a walkway that encapsulates the typically bizarre Mancunian relationship between an incongruous 1844 railway station and a 20-year-old sports and concert arena. Industrial revolution meets post-Madchester in one classic cameo.
It’s the morning after the night before. I’ve slept on and off through the night with the radio on. “Fatalities” at 11pm became “19 fatalities” at 1am (this one was too difficult to stomach) and has now become 22. I know a few people who were at the gig, but safely made it out. Some people are still looking for their kids. The local Holiday Inn housed 50 children who attended the gig unaccompanied by their parents, and is seeking to unite them. I saw people offering their city centre rooms on Facebook for people at the MEN Arena to take shelter overnight. Good people. Very good people.
As I reflect on last night, I’m haunted by that surreal experience of watching events unfold on TV, knowing nothing for sure, yet being certain that history was being written in front of my eyes.
At first it reminded me of the 1996 IRA bomb exploding in Manchester (I heard that from 10 miles away). And yet not one person was killed by that IRA bomb. That wasn’t luck. Back in those days, terrorists placed a phone call before detonating anything. It doesn’t bear thinking of that, the whole MEN arena would have been totally cleared had that been the case last night. No, these perpetrators are truly bastards. But far worse. I don’t wish to talk much about them.
My point is that this event feels very different. This assault has nothing to do with bricks and mortar, shopping centres and the businesses within, it’s about life and death. This is not our 1996, this is our 9/11. It cuts far deeper.
On a personal level, it’s sharply brought out the Mancunian in me. Nothing galvanised New Yorkers more than 9/11 and as I write this, every Mancunian is feeling it too. And we’re a strong bunch and a very proud city. Every friend who works in the city centre has gone into work today. Manchester will look exactly the same, but feel very, very different.
Enter Andy Burnham. Talk about an initiation from hell. He was elected Mayor of Manchester only a fortnight ago, and now finds himself saddled with the task of guiding this great city through this disaster and out the other side. I spent a few minutes last night Googling Andy Burnham, and I like what I read. He’s born on Merseyside and represented Leigh as MP, so what he lacks in mayoral experience, he makes up for in good Northern stock. He’s a man who decided to donate 15% of his mayoral salary to mental health charities. As an ex-psychiatrist, I take my hat off to a man like that. Unfortunately, demands on these services will be even higher in the aftermath of what has just happened, so he may want to review that figure, but I trust him.
I don’t know how our emotions will develop over the coming days or weeks. It’s only 14 hours old and the wounds are still very fresh. We’re reminded by the police we’re still not out of the woods as regards repeat attacks, yet we should go about our usual business. For many of us, tomorrow’s business will be supporting Manchester United in the Europa League Final. Not only will there be a minute’s silence for the victims of this atrocity, every fan will be singing their heart out for the city of Manchester and its beloved children tragically lost only a few hours ago.
LINK: Appeal / fund to support the families of the MEN Arena victims
Categories: miscellaneous
Well put Jeremy. I may be a thousand miles away in Athens but I felt more Mancunian today that I have for years. Manchester will dust itself off and carry on, of that I have no doubt, but for some families this is a horror just beginning. My heart bleeds for them.
Couldn't agree more, Jem, we were up through the night watching events unfold. Just appalling.
Well said Jeremy! I was also a dad waiting for my 14 year old daughter to come out of the MEN years ago. Why target such a joyous venue?
Apt words, Jeremy. We all can associate with last night. I have 5 daughters, all followers of music, frequently at the MEN, I, too, waiting to take them home after. I feel for all the parents last night, some, thankfully, eventually reunited with their Kids, some weren't! There are some very empty, sad, angry hearts today! For what? Their children, eagerly, went for an evening of excitement, as they followed their hero. Their pleasure turned to horror, by some misguided fool, who thought his actions could make a better world! For who? Certainly not for him, for if there is a hell, that is where he deserves to be, in eternal damnation! Manchester will stand proud, but that doesn't make it easier for those parents who will never see their children grow up, never see the grandchildren that they would bring into the world. This is a good world, that was certainly proved by many in Manchester last night. But, there is evil, how we rid the world of it is not clear. The individual responsible for last night's atrocities did not act alone, I am sure! The evil is in the radicalisation of these individuals, & society should be out to hunt the people responsible & deal with them appropriately. We have worked hard for a free civilisation, & these misinformed, uneducated (words fail me!) are jealous of this, & want to destroy it. They need to be taken out of our society. They abuse the privileges that they have been given. They have no place in the human race. My heart goes out to all parents & families who, today, have to face up to a future without their child, who only went out to enjoy a concert.