Bombing victims all identified: Police

MANCHESTER — Greater Manchester Police said yesterday that they are “confident” they know the identity of all the people who died in the Manchester Arena suicide bombing on Monday night.

The police said in a statement: “We are now confident that we know who all the people are, who have sadly lost their lives in the attack at the Manchester Arena.

“We have made contact with all of the families, and our specially trained officers are supporting them.

“Due to the number of victims, forensic post-mortems are likely to take four to five days.

“After this, we will be in a position to formally name the victims with guidance from the coroner,” the statement added.

At least 10 more victims were publicly identified yesterday, taking to 13 the number of people who have been named.

In all, 22 people died and 59 others were wounded, according to the authorities, when Salman Abedi, a 22-year-old Briton of Libyan descent, detonated a homemade bomb outside the arena, at the end of a concert by the American pop singer Ariana Grande.

An off-duty female officer from Cheshire constabulary was among those who died in the attack, police sources have confirmed.

Her husband is in a critical condition and her children were also injured in the blast.

In addition to those killed, Manchester officials raised to 119 the number of people who sought medical treatment after the attack.

Sixty-four people were still hospitalised, said Mr Jon Rouse of the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership yesterday.

Officials say 20 of them are being treated for critical injuries.

Mothers Alison Howe and Lisa Lees, who were friends, were waiting in the foyer of the concert venue to collect their 15-year-old daughters when the blast from the bomb killed them.

Their daughters were safe, according to news reports.

Howe’s stepson Jordan Howe confirmed her death on Facebook, writing: “They took a caring, beautiful mum and step-mother away from us all. She was amazing to us all. Love you loads Alison Howe xx.”

Lees’ brother paid tribute to his sister on Facebook. “For those who don’t know, Lisa is gone but never ever forgotten. I love you Lisa. I’ll miss you so much,” he wrote. After the attack, desperate family members had turned to social media in search of Lees’ whereabouts.

To that grim roster, another teenage victim, the 15-year-old Olivia Campbell, was added.

Her mother, Charlotte, said that the search, which had included a heart-wrenching appeal on television, had ended with devastating news.

“RIP my darling precious gorgeous girl, Olivia Campbell, taken far far too soon. Go sing with the angels and keep smiling. Mummy loves you so much,” Ms Campbell wrote on Facebook.

A 14-year-old Cheshire schoolgirl, Nell Jones, was the latest of those killed in the bombing to be named. She was a student of Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School.

Head teacher Dennis Oliver said: “It has now been announced in the school that Nell has unfortunately died.

“I have just done six assemblies to tell the pupils. Children are all over the place crying. We are all devastated. The heart wrenches for me and everyone else.”

A Polish couple, Angelika and Marcin Klis, from York, England, who had been waiting to collect their daughters from the arena were also killed. Their deaths were confirmed by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They had driven their two daughters, Alex and Patrycja, to the concert and were supposed to pick them up afterwards. “The kids are safe,” said Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.

“Everything is under control. One of the girls is underage, so she is being looked after by child services.”

A PR manager, Martyn Hett from Stockport, who had appeared on television shows such as Come Dine With Me and Tattoo Fixers also perished in the blast.

Hett’s friend Russell Hayward said: “We got the news last night that our wonderful, iconic and beautiful Martyn didn’t survive. He left this world exactly how he lived, as the centre of attention.”

A 50-year-old mother of three who went to the Manchester Arena on Monday night to pick up a friend’s daughter has been confirmed as another victim of the terror attack.

Jane Tweddle-Taylor, a school receptionist from Blackpool, had gone to the venue with a friend.

Ms Jane Bailey, principal of South Shore Academy, where Tweddle-Taylor worked said the school had been left “devastated” by the news.

“Jane was a well-loved member of staff and our thoughts are with her friends and family at this terrible time,” she said.

A mother, Michelle Kiss, who took her young children to the concert were also killed.

Her niece, Laura Murray, wrote the sad news on Facebook.

She said: “It’s true. Thank you everyone for your help. We are all heartbroken.”

Earlier, eight-year-old Saffie-Rose Roussos, 18-year-old health and social care student Georgina Callander, as well as 26-year-old John Atkinson (picture) were identified as victims on Tuesday. AGENCIES