- Picture shows repair work underway inside the Manchester Arena’s City Room
- It has been released before Saturday’s WeAreManchester benefit show
- That will be the first concert held at the venue since the May 22 atrocity
A picture of the area at Manchester Arena where the bomb that killed dozens was detonated has been released in a bid to help survivors cope with its reopening.
The picture shows repair work underway inside the City Room before Saturday’s WeAreManchester benefit show – the first concert at the Arena since the May 22 atrocity.
The image was released in conjunction with the Arena by a charity working to provide support to the families of the 22 people killed in the attack and all those affected.
The picture shows repair work underway inside the City Room, pictured, before Saturday’s We AreManchester benefit show
This image shows the scenes of devastation inside the Arena following the attack in May
Police are pictured outside the Manchester Arena the day after the atrocity
The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace also helped organise Thursday’s visits to the Arena and the City Room for families who lost loved ones as well as those who were injured.
In a statement chief executive Nick Taylor said: ‘Today, people affected by the 22nd May attack have been invited back to the City Room in advance of the space being reopened to ticket holders for the We Are Manchester concert.
‘There has been huge interest in this private advance visit which has been strongly police regulated and supported by event security, the Peace Foundation and Victim Support.
‘The return to operation of the City Room is vital to facilitate the reopening of the Arena.
The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace also helped organise Thursday’s visits to the Arena and the City Room for families who lost loved ones as well as those who were injured. Pictured is a survivor of the attack being helped by police
‘Significant remedial work has already taken place to repair damage to the area and longer term repair work will continue over the coming months.
‘Visiting the City Room is clearly a sensitive issue and is not appropriate for all families or survivors, however it is important that we were able to facilitate this time for people to see the space and ask any questions before it reopens.
‘Many other people have also been affected by the attack and by releasing this accompanying image we also hope that this will help to prepare future concert goers for their return to the Arena.
‘The City Room will now remain closed until it opens to ticket holders on Saturday at 17:00.’