Cheshire residents and politicians have been reacting this morning to the terror attack at Manchester Arena which left 22 people dead and another 59 injured.

We will be bringing you updates on those reactions throughout the morning.

Signing off

We are now closing our live blog of the aftermath of last night’s horrific terror attack in Manchester.

Our colleagues at the Manchester Evening News are continuing to provide updates here.

Thank you for following our updates throughout the day. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.

An artist writes a message in St Ann's Square, Manchester
An artist writes a message in St Ann's Square, Manchester (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
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Hero cabbie who crossed police cordon to find four girls who he was scheduled to take home

Tommy McMahon, 47, of Camelot Way, Runcorn, a taxi driver who crossed the police cordon last night on foot in Manchester to find four girls who he was scheduled to take home
Tommy McMahon, 47, of Camelot Way, Runcorn, a taxi driver who crossed the police cordon last night on foot in Manchester to find four girls who he was scheduled to take home (Image: Trinity Mirror Copyright)

This is Tommy McMahon, a taxi driver who crossed the police cordon last night on foot in Manchester to find four girls aged between 16 and 18 who he was scheduled to take home.

Tommy, who works for Frodsham and District Taxis, had been frantically trying to find a route to them by road but pulled up after hitting repeated road cordons.

He disembarked and received permission from a police officer to pass through and continue his search on foot.

He said his only thought was to find the girls, who were aged 16 to 18 years, and to ‘get them home safe’.

After finding them, he walked with them back to his cab and dropped them safely back in Runcorn.

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GMP chief constable Ian Hopkins' statement in full

Can I start by once again passing on our heartfelt sympathies to all the innocent people caught up in last night’s despicable act.

We now have a team of specially-trained Family Liaison Officers who are supporting families.

There has been much speculation and names of those who may have been killed in the media and social media. We accept that this is inevitable however we ask that people allow the police and coroner to release the names once the families are ready and appropriately supported.

As you would expect the police response to this across Greater Manchester has been significant as we support people to go about their daily business.

Part of this response has seen us arrest a 23-year-old man in connection with the attack and we have also carried out two warrants, one in Whalley Range and one in Fallowfield that included a controlled explosion to enable safe entry.

We understand that feelings are very raw right now and people are bound to be looking for answers. However, now, more than ever, it is vital that our diverse communities in Greater Manchester stand together and do not tolerate hate.

We have been visited by the Prime Minster and Home Secretary and we have taken them through the emergency response so far and what we plan to do in future days.

I can confirm that the man suspected of carrying out last night’s atrocity has been named as 22-year-old Salman Abedi. However, he has not yet been formally identified and I wouldn’t wish, therefore, to comment further.

The priority remains to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.

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22-year-old Salman Abedi suspected, but not confirmed by coroner

Chief constable Hopkins added that it is believed a 22-year-old man called Salman Abedi is the suspect, but the coroner has not formally confirmed the bomber’s identity yet.

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We will not tolerate hate crime, say police

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins has just delivered an operational update.

In it, he has called on the public to support each other and urged people to report hate crime.

It is now more vital than ever that our communities stand together and support each other.

We will not tolerate hate towards any parts of our community.

(Image: PA)
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Police at bombing suspect's home

A police forensic investigator at an address in Elsmore Road
A police forensic investigator at an address in Elsmore Road (Image: PA)

The MEN is reporting that a ‘Know Your Chemicals’ booklet has been found by forensics officers searching the home of Manchester Arena bombing suspect Salman Abedi.

This picture shows a a forensics officer coming out of an address on Elsmore Road, Fallowfield, holding the book.

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PM pictured signing book of condolence

Prime Minister Theresa May writes a message at Manchester Town Hall
Prime Minister Theresa May writes a message at Manchester Town Hall (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
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Take That Manchester dates cancelled

Manchester Arena has confirmed Take That’s gigs later this week have been cancelled.

Due to the tragic events in Manchester last night and the ongoing police investigation, the scheduled Take That that concerts for Thursday 25, Friday 26, Saturday 27 at Manchester Arenahave been postponed.

Further details will be released as soon as possible.

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Vigil to be held in Tarporley

A vigil to remember the victims of the attack has been arranged in Tarporley tonight.

Organiser Alex Cefai said the vigil will begin at 8pm outside St Helen’s Church.

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Reports of bomber's identity

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More flowers laid in Manchester city centre

Police and the public are laying Flowers in St Ann's Square, Manchester following the terror attack at the Manchester Arena
Police and the public are laying Flowers in St Ann's Square, Manchester following the terror attack at the Manchester Arena
Flowers lay in shape of a heart in front of British Embassy in Berlin, Germany
Flowers lay in shape of a heart in front of British Embassy in Berlin, Germany (Image: Steffi Loos/Getty Images)
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14-year-old girl from Cheshire missing

Nell Jones
Nell Jones

Nell Jones, 14, has not been heard from since the terror attack.

Her friends and family are desperately appealing for help to trace her.

The Manchester Evening News reports it’s understood that Nell, who is from Goostrey, near Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, had been recently using crutches following a ligament injury.

Knutsford Young Farmers posted on its Facebook page: “One of our members and close friend Nell Jones was at the concert last night and sadly is still missing! If anyone hears from Nell please let someone know! #PrayForNell.”

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Queen observes minute's silence

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Officers still at scene of property raids

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Rumours of unaccompanied kids in hotels quashed

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Fears for missing Cheshire schoolgirl

Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and Sixth Form College
Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and Sixth Form College (Image: CheshireLive)

A student from Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School is missing following last night’s terror attack in Manchester.

We believe that one student remains unaccounted for and I have spoken directly with the family.

Read the full story here.

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Buckingham Palace to observe minute's silence

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Almost 120 people injured in total

Ambulance chiefs say 119 people were injured in the bomb attack, as the full scale of last night’s horror continues to emerge.

Paramedics treated 60 walking wounded in the city centre, on top of 59 people being treated in hospitals - several with life-threatening injuries - including children, the Manchester Evening News reports.

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Prince Charles has told of his shock over the 'truly dreadful event'

The Prince of Wales has released a statement.

My wife and I were so profoundly shocked to learn of the truly dreadful event which took place in Manchester last night. That such a large number of people, including so many young concert-goers, lost their lives or have suffered so much in this appalling atrocity is deeply distressing and fills us with intense sadness. Words cannot adequately express what so many families must be feeling at this incredibly difficult time and our most heartfelt sympathy is with all those who have so tragically lost loved ones or who have been affected in some way.

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PM arrives in Manchester

Prime Minister Theresa May meets Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins
Prime Minister Theresa May meets Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins (Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
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#WeStandTogether

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Our stories of the attack so far

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Rossett family devastated by terrorism reach out to other victims

Andrea Watson, centre, with her parents Ivan and Emer at a fund-raising event for the charity set up in the name of their loved one Fiona Stevenson
Andrea Watson, centre, with her parents Ivan and Emer at a fund-raising event for the charity set up in the name of their loved one Fiona Stevenson

A woman whose 29-year-old sister Fiona was murdered in the July 7 London atrocity in 2005 has expressed sympathy for other devastated families following last night’s terrorist attack on Manchester Arena.

Andrea Watson was living in Elmwood Avenue, Hoole, when her only sibling Fiona Stevenson, a talented lawyer, was killed as she made her way to work on the London underground.

She told The Chronicle: “Those that are in hospital, searching, waiting, hoping, scouring all sources to find their loved ones or have the heartbreaking news that they have passed away – there are no words to give in situations like this, it is just so terribly, earth shatteringly sad.”

Read the full story here.

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Statement from the Bishop of Shrewsbury

The Rt Rev. Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, on the Manchester bombing:

“Following the suicide bombing in Manchester over-night I know that you will be remembering in prayer all the victims and their families.

“Let us continue to pray for those who have died and their families and all who are suffering as a result of the terrible events of last night.

“Let us also keep in our prayer the police and emergency services together with all hospital staff and chaplains.

“Together with church and religious leaders in Greater Manchester, I ask the prayers of your parishioners for peace and solidarity in all our communities that the hate which inspires such indiscriminate violence may be overcome by that love which faith and prayer inspires in our hearts. I hope the days ahead, over-shadowed by this atrocity, will lead us all to such prayer and active charity.”

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'Manchester will not be defeated'

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Cheshire charity launches crowdfunding appeal

Cheshire Community Foundation has also launched a fundraising appeal.

The charity says all the money raised by supporters will go to help the victims and families.

You can find it here.

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Urgent appeal for dash-cam footage

Police investigating the terror attack have issued an appeal to anyone who was in Manchester city centre between 8pm and 11pm and has any dash-cam footage to send it to ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk as a matter of urgency.

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Manchester Arena issue statement

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Advice for parents on how to explain attack to kids

The NSPCC has published advice to help parents talk to their children about terrorism:

• Listen carefully to a child’s fears and worries
• Offer reassurance and comfort and avoid complicated and worrying explanations that could leave them more frightened and confused.
• Help them find advice and support to understand distressing events and feelings.
• Children can always contact Childline free and confidentially 24/7


Reporter Carmella De Lucia has put together a piece on how to try to explain the callous bomb attack on Manchester Arena to youngsters.

Read it in full here.

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Floral tributes build in Manchester

Tributes left outside St Ann's Church in Manchester, the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena
Tributes left outside St Ann's Church in Manchester, the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
Manchester Terror attack at the Manchester Arena Flowers left at St Ann's Square
Manchester Terror attack at the Manchester Arena Flowers left at St Ann's Square
A woman leaves flowers outside St Ann's Church in Manchester the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena
A woman leaves flowers outside St Ann's Church in Manchester the morning after a suicide bomber killed 22 people, including children at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
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