A UK judge has awarded millions of pounds in compensation to 16 people who were injured in the 2017 bombing at Ariana Grande’s Manchester Arena concert.
According to NME, a total of £20 million (about $26.7 million) will be paid to the survivors, all of whom were under the age of 16 at the time of the attack. Each individual will receive between £2,770 and £11.4 million (roughly $3,700 to $15.2 million), depending on the severity of their injuries.
The identities of the victims and their families remain protected under a court order. The court heard that some of the young concertgoers suffered life-changing physical injuries, while others continue to live with severe psychological trauma.
“These cases all arise from a single and unimaginable act of terrorism,” Judge Nigel Bird said while delivering the ruling. “Twenty-two innocent lives were lost, and the lives of countless others were changed forever. The love and care given by parents to injured children cannot be measured in money.”
The attack took place on May 22, 2017, when a suicide bomber targeted fans in the foyer of the Manchester Arena shortly after Grande’s concert ended. The terror group ISIS later claimed responsibility.
In total, 22 people were killed and more than 1,000 others were injured. The tragedy also deeply affected Grande herself, who later revealed in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A public inquiry into the bombing began in September 2020 and found that there were missed opportunities that could have prevented the attack.
Damages will be paid by venue operator SMG Europe Holdings, crowd management firm Showsec International Ltd, Greater Manchester Police, and British Transport Police. All four organizations have issued public apologies to the survivors and to the families of those who lost their lives.
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