Love will always be stronger than hate

Manchester marks 5th anniversary of Arena blast that killed 22

- LUCY THORNTON

A CITY united in grief and defiance yesterday as Manchester marked the fifth anniversary of the Arena terror attack with the message: "Love is always stronger than hate."

Bells across the city were set to toll at 10.31 pm to mark the moment the bomb was detonated, killing 22, as fans left an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017.

The names of all the victims were read out at the city's Victoria railway station, where five years earlier youngsters had arrived looking forward to the concert.

Bereaved relatives and friends were among those paying their respects at the Glade of Light memorial near the Arena, opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge earlier this month.

Before setting off on yesterday's Great Manchester Run more than 20,000 racers applauded the 22 killed and the hundreds wounded in the atrocity.