Ariana Grande to play benefit concert for victims of Manchester bombing

The US singer Ariana Grande has announced that she will play a benefit concert for the victims of the bombing at her concert in Manchester last week.

A woman walks past a billboard advertising U.S. singer Ariana Grande's world tour in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 24, 2017.  [Photo/Agencies]

The concert, which is expected to include several other stars, will take place at the Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester on Sunday and will be broadcast live. The venue holds 50,000 people and is a few miles from Manchester United’s stadium of the same name.

Twenty-two people died and more than 100 were injured when Salam Abedi, a 22-year old Briton, blew himself up as fans of Grande left the main auditorium at the end of her performance. The investigation into Abedi and is still going on. Police continue to detain 15 people and are searching a number or properties.

In a statement released after the bombing, Grande said she would return to the “incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honour of and to raise money for the victims and their families”.

A combination photo shows victims of the blast at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. Seen here are (top L-R) a family handout photo of Sorrell Leczkowski received May 25, 2017, a family handout photo of Eilidh MacLeod received May 25, 2017, a family handout photo of Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry, received May 25, 2017, (bottom L-R) an undated family handout photo of Michelle Kiss, a family handout photo of off-duty Cheshire police officer Elaine McIver, received May 25, 2017, an undated photo from the Facebook account of Olivia Campbell, and an undated photo from the Facebook account of Martyn Hett. Leczkowski family via Greater Manchester Police/MacLeod family via Greater Manchester Police/Family via Greater Manchester Police/Kiss family via Greater Manchester Police/McIver family via Greater Manchester police/Olivia Campbell via Facebook/Martyn Hett via Facebook via REUTERS. [Photo/Agencies]

“I want to thank my fellow musicians and friends for reaching out to be part of our expression of love for Manchester. I will have details to share with you as soon as everything is confirmed.”

The BBC suggested that other participants might include Justin Bieber, Coldplay and Katy Perry.