Manchester is preparing to mark three years since the Arena bombing with a virtual ceremony, with plans unveiled for a permanent memorial to the 22 people who lost their lives.
Owing to the lockdown, people have been advised not to gather in remembrance or leave tributes to commemorate the third anniversary of the atrocity on Friday.
A church service led by the dean of Manchester, Rogers Govender, will begin with prayers at 9.30am. It will be held again at 4.30pm, when the names of the 22 victims will be read out.
The Manchester Cathedral service will be broadcast live on Facebook, with those watching invited to light a candle in remembrance.
At 10.31pm, the time the bomb was detonated on 22 May 2017, a recording of the cathedral’s bells tolling 22 times will be aired on BBC Radio Manchester, while other stations will broadcast “a reflective moment”.
The virtual ceremonies will mark a particularly poignant moment for Manchester. The city stood solidly together in the immediate aftermath of the attack and it has marked the two previous anniversaries with moving public events.
Swathes of flowers, teddy bears and handmade hearts have been laid in St Ann’s Square in the past two anniversaries, but this year members of the public have been asked not to leave tributes.
Manchester city council said its plans for a permanent memorial, called Glade of Light, would be submitted for approval next month.
A white stone “halo” will bear the names of the 22 victims in bronze and contain personalised memory capsules with mementos provided by their loves ones.
The memorial, between the cathedral and Chetham’s School of Music, is designed to be a tranquil garden space where people can spend time in quiet reflection.
Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester city council, said: “Manchester will never forget the terrible events of 22 May 2017. Those who were killed, those who lost loved ones and all those whose lives changed forever that night are forever in our thoughts.
“We will be thinking of them on 22 May and, importantly, plans for a permanent memorial, a tranquil space for contemplation which can be used year-round, are progressing well.”
