Ariana Grande posts heartlfelt message ahead of Manchester Arena bombing anniversary

Friday will mark three years since 22 people were killed in a terror attack at the popstar's concert 
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Rachel McGrath21 May 2020
The Weekender

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Ariana Grande has said she is feeling "sadness and tremendous heaviness" of the third anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing.

Tomorrow marks three years since a terrorist killed 22 people and injured hundreds more by detonating a homemade device in the lobby of the venue shortly after her concert finished.

Grande returned to Manchester two weeks later for a star-studded emotional benefit concert.

Writing on Instagram ahead of Friday’s anniversary, Grande, 26, said: “I want to take a moment to acknowledge and send my love to everyone that is feeling the sadness and tremendous heaviness of the anniversary coming up this week.

Ariana Grande - In pictures

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“Not a day goes by that this doesn’t affect you and all of us still. I will be thinking of you all week and weekend. My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you always.”

Grande added a black heart and an emoji of a bee, which became a symbol of hope and resilience in the wake of the attack.

(Ariana Grande/Instagram )
Ariana Grande/Instagram

In the wake of the atrocity, Grande flew back to the US and postponed the remaining dates of her Dangerous Woman tour.

Together with her manager, Scooter Braun, she then organised a benefit concert which was held at Manchester's Old Trafford cricket ground just two weeks later.

The One Love Manchester concert featured superstars including Justin Bieber, the Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Liam Gallagher and Katy Perry, and raised millions of pounds for victims and their families.

Grande returned to Manchester for the first time in over two years last August, when she performed at the city’s Pride event.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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