‘Important’ memorial to victims of Manchester Arena bombing opens with tributes from families

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A “beautiful” memorial to the 22 people murdered in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing has opened to the public.

Known as the Glade of Light, the memorial is a white marble “halo” bearing the names of those who died in the May 2017 attack.

Memory capsules containing mementoes and messages were placed by the victims’ loved ones and embedded inside the halo, which stands between Manchester Cathedral and Chetham’s School of Music.

Before its opening, families of the victims were allowed to visit the Manchester memorial privately, Sky News reported.

To Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, the Glade of Light is a place for reflection.

“It’s important for the injured, for the people who have been psychologically damaged and for the people of Manchester because this is such a huge thing that happened in Manchester,” she told BBC Radio Manchester.

“It should never be forgotten.

“It’s also a place for future generations to come and remember so that they are reminded of what happened that day.

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“It’s part of the city’s history.”

Martyn Hett, who tragically died in the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017.

In her memory capsule, she placed a USB stick, photographs and objects she knows Martyn, who was 29 when he died in the attack, “would appreciate”.

In the centre of the Manchester memorial, a single hawthorn tree has been planted. Its white flowers are expected to bloom around the five-year anniversary of the attack on 22 May.

The attack saw 22 die and hundreds injured when an explosion ripped through the Manchester Arena at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.

It was carried out by Salman Abedi, a 22-year-old who died in the blast.

Many of the victims were children – their parents and guardians anxiously waiting to pick them up from the arena. The youngest was just eight years old.

An order of service for the funeral of Manchester Arena bomb victim Saffie-Rose Roussos. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said in a press release that the memorial “will be a place of peace and comfort, a reminder that love is stronger than hate”.

“The Glade of Light is a beautiful tribute to them and somewhere which will also have profound meaning for everyone affected by the attack,” Craig added.