Eight-year-old among first Manchester bombing victims to be named

Children and young adults may be the largest number among the grievously injured and killed from Monday’s suspected suicide bombing in Manchester, UK.

An eight-year-old girl is the youngest identified victim on the bomb attack on the Manchester Arena.

Saffie Roussos, 8, was among around 20,000 concert-goers watching Ariana Grande’s performance with her mother and sister, who are both being treated for shrapnel injuries.

Roussos was a student at Tarleton Primary School, approximately 64km north-west of Manchester.

Her headteacher Chris Upton said she was “a beautiful little girl”, who was “loved by everyone”.

“Our focus is now on helping pupils and staff cope with this shocking news and we have called in specialist support from Lancashire County Council to help us do that,” Upton added.

Another girl, Georgina Callander (see main photo above) was earlier the first casualty to be named. She was 18, and in the second year of studying a health and social care course at 6th form college.

Runshaw College announced Callander’s death on social media.

The College said: “Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to all of Georgina’s family, friends, and all of those affected by this loss.

“We are offering all available support possible at this tragic time, including counselling with our dedicated student support team”.

The attack targeted crowds exiting the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena, where minutes before 10:30 pm, US pop star Ariana Grande had finished her European tour performance.

Grande is especially popular among young children and younger teens and Manchester is a well-known stop for musicians.

At least 20 others were killed and a further 59 are injured where, spread out over eight hospitals in the Greater Manchester region, some face life-threatening injuries.

“There are a number of individuals who have very, very serious injuries and are requiring intensive care and people who are going to be in hospital for a long time in terms of that treatment,” said Jon Rouse, the chief officer of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.

Of the 59, as many as 12 children are known to have been hospitalised at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, said Derek Cartwright, England’s North West Ambulance Service Chief Executive, in a statement.

The 47 adults injured were sent to hospitals around Manchester and the local area. Nine were sent to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, six to Salford, six to Wythenshawe, six to Stepping Hill, eight to Royal Bolton, seven to Royal Oldham and five to North Manchester hospitals.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack but as police continue their investigation, details are emerging of some of the first few named victims from Monday's terrorist attack.

SOURCE: euronews