'We are the many': Thousands flock to Manchester vigil

Thousands of people have gathered at a vigil in Albert Square to remember people who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena attack.

Twenty-two people were killed and 59 injured when a suicide bomber struck at an Ariana Grande gig on Monday night.

• Read how it happened from our live blog or check a summary of the basics.
• Read the full report on the blast

The suspected attacker has been named as 22-year-old Salman Abedi.

A minute's silence was held as crowds spilled out on to nearby roads.

Lord mayor of Manchester Eddy Newman began the vigil by thanking emergency services, prompting huge applause.

"The people of Manchester will remember the victims forever and we will defy the terrorists by working together to create cohesive, diverse communities that are stronger together," he said.

"We are the many, they are the few."

Bishop of Manchester David Walker lit a candle and addressed the crowd at the vigil, which began at 6pm.

"We will pull through the event sof last night because we will stand together. Stand together whatever our background, whatever our religion, whatever our beliefs or our politics, we will stand together to say this city is greater than the forces that it aligned itself against," Mr Walker said.

Senior figures including Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Speaker John Bercow joined Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham on stage.

Mr Burnham said it was a time for the city to stand together.

"We won't let this act of extremism divide us one from another. There are those who would like to make it all the responsibility of the muslim community, well, I'm afraid that is wrong. This is an act of extremism and people need to remember that at all times."

Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said he was heartened to hear the acts of kindness from emergency service workers and normal people.

He said: "The people of Greater Manchester showed the people of the world how much we care, how much we care about one another, and how much we care for those in need."

He also thanked "the rest of the world for holding us in their thoughts".

Tony Lloyd, former Police and Crime Commissioner and interim mayor for Greater Manchester, said: "We're not going to accept evil acts dividing us.

"You can see throngs of people have come out to pay their respects... but in the end it's the resolution that says 'we're not prepared to be divided'."

Mr Lloyd said "we pride ourselves on our diversity" and that diversity could not be "challenged by one evil individual".

"We'll get through this because that is the spirit of Manchester."

Members of the Manchester Sikh Community were providing free refreshment, having arrived in Albert Square singing and receiving a round of applause.

They said they will be giving out food "to help the city at a time when things are bad".

New Zealander Sarah Illingworth has lived in Manchester for the last three years and said the attack was close to home, literally - she lives five minutes from the arena where the concert was held.

She said it was "quite lovely" to see the whole community united for the vigil.

"It had a really Mancunian feel to it, the energy was mostly positive and the people were just there to show support"

Lu Bowen, 40, brought flowers to lay as a mark of respect, and said it has been a "horrific" day but said she wanted to show a sense of "solidarity and commitment that Manchester always has".

Standing alongside her teenage daughter Lucy, she said: "We watched it all unfold last night.

"When the chips are down, Manchester always pulls together."

Roads around Albert Square were set to be closed from 5pm until about 7pm.

Vigils were also held in cities across the UK, including in Belfast and Glasgow where people held posters which said: "We stand together. Manchester."

- BBC