I Felt Ashamed To Be A Firefighter...We Didn't Respond And Do Our Job

A Retired fire officer said he felt ashamed to be in the service after crews failed to help casualties at the Manchester Arena bombing.

- Chris Riches

Alan Topping, a duty command support officer on the night, told a public inquiry that specialists who could have treated and moved the injured got there too late.

The first fire engine did not arrive until two hours after the explosion on May 22 2017 triggered by suicide bomber Salman Abedi. He slaughtered 22 people and injured hundreds at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.

Mr Topping said: “We didn’t respond and we didn’t do our jobs to make a difference. It took me a couple of days to put my shirt back on, such was the strength of my feelings.”

He explained he was not even aware of the blast at 10.31pm until he received a call from his control room more than a hour later which informed him of “loads of casualties” and reports of a gunman.