'OLIVIA WOULDN'T WANT US TO CRY'
Ariana Grande pays tribute to Manchester bomb blast victim Olivia Campbell, 15, in front of 50,000 defiant fans before being joined on stage by girl, 12, for emotional performance
TENS of thousands of defiant music fans watched in awe as Ariana Grande performed a moving duet with a 12-year-old girl during a tribute to the victims of terror — before the star dedicated a song to Manchester bomb victim Olivia Campbell.
Brave schoolgirl Natasha Seth moved the crowd with a rendition of Ariana's hit My Everything ahead of a surprise appearance by Oasis legend Liam Gallagher with Coldplay.
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Earlier the crowd erupted into defiant cheers following an emotional minute's silence.
Star performers including Take That, Robbie Williams, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Little Mix, the Black Eyed Peas, Usher and Katy Perry gathered in a show of solidarity in Manchester in the wake of the bombing two weeks ago — and last night's atrocity in London.
Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus called on fans at the One Love tribute concert — many of whom were clutching "For our angels" signs — to fall silent before urging them to “not be afraid” in the face of terror.
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And Ariana, whose gig was bombed by jihadi Salman Abedi, revealed that teen victim Olivia, 15, would have wanted fans to stay strong and enjoy themselves.
"Her mother told me Olivia wouldn't want me to cry and would've wanted to hear the hits", the star told a defiant 50,000-strong crowd.
During the show, the US pop singer was moved to tears and told the crowd: "Manchester, I love you with all my heart".
She played tracks including Be Alright, Side To Side and Break Free after overhauling her set-list following the conversation with Olivia's mum.
The star said she had not planned to play so many of her songs during the show but changed her mind at the last minute.
"I had the pleasure of meeting Olivia's mummy a few days ago and I started to cry and gave her a big hug and she said 'stop crying'.
"And then she told me Olivia would have wanted to hear the hits. We had a different show planned and we had a rehearsal yesterday and we changed everything."
Grande, who wore a white oversized One Love Manchester sweatshirt, thanked the crowd for "being so happy and strong and unified".
"This night is the kind of thing the world really needs right now," she added.
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Another heartwarming part of the show came when Natasha led her choir from Parrs Wood High School onto the stage for a duet with Ariana.
After their tear-jerking performance, the entire star-studded line-up filed out on stage to hear Ariana perform Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
The British Red Cross confirmed that over £10 million had been raised for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund so far.
Over £2 million alone was raised in the three hours of the benefit concert through text and online donations.
Ahead of the concert, armed cops had set up a ring of steel around at Old Trafford cricket ground as fans arrived for the fundraising gig - just hours after the devastating terror attack in the heart of London that left seven dead and 48 injured.
The major event, broadcast across the world on TV and online, was seen as an opportunity for Britain to show how it will not be cowed by senseless violence and fear.
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Highlights of the show included a surprise appearance by Mancunian Liam Gallagher, who was joined by Coldplay for a rendition of the Oasis hit Live Forever, which ended with Gallagher throwing his tambourine into the crowd.
He dedicated the song "to the beautiful people who were killed and injured in the Manchester terror attack".
Earlier in the night Coldplay joined Grande on stage to sing Oasis's hit Don't Look Back In Anger, which has been an anthem for Manchester since the tragedy.
In between renditions of Take That hits Giants and Rule The World, Gary Barlow also told the crowd: "Thank you everybody for coming out tonight, thank you for everybody watching at home, thanks to Ariana for inviting us tonight."
U2 echoed this with a defiant message from Bono, who said: "We are broken-hearted for parents who lost their children and broken-hearted for children who lost their parents."
He added: "There is no end to grief, that's how we know there is no end to love."
Robbie Williams struggled to sing at one point as he gave a heartfelt and tearful performance.
Miley Cirus performed Happy with Pharrell Williams and told the crowd: "The most important responsibility we have on the planet is to take care of one another and look what we are doing."
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Miley added that she was "so honoured to be at this incredible event" and performed "Happy" alongside Pharrell Williams, who also sang "Get Lucky."
"I don't feel or smell or hear or see any fear in this building. All we feel here tonight is love, resilience, positivity," Williams said.
Ariana's manager Scooter Braun later appeared on stage to pay tribute to those affected by the Manchester bombing.
He said "This tragedy has made us all throw away our divides, our differences, our politics, our adult nature and look to our children.
"Manchester, your bravery is our hope. You joining us here today with so many watching around the world sends that message spoken by Olivia Campbell-Hardy's mother, Charlotte that her daughter and all of the others lost will never be victims."
He said a TV screen had been set up for the children who remain at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
London Bridge terror attack - What we know so far:
- ISIS has claimed responsibility after a van ploughed through pedestrians on London Bridge just after 10pm on Saturday
- Three jihadists wearing fake bomb vests began knifing bystanders and pub-goers
- Staff at one pub barricaded the doors as the attackers tried to storm the building before the three terrorists were shot dead
- Member of the public caught in the crossfire as cops fired is being treated in hospital
- At least seven victims were killed, including a French man, and 48 people were injured with 21 critical
- At least two police officers are among the injured
- The first victim was named as Canadian national Christine Archibald, a charity worker from British Columbia
- Theresa May chaired a Cobra meeting before declaring 'enough is enough'
- Home Secretary Amber Rudd said police believe they have 'all the main perpetrators' and are confident they were radical Islamic terrorists
- Cops raid block of flats in Barking, East London, reportedly home to one of the attackers, and arrest 12 as well as sealing off East Ham flat
- Police appealed for witnesses
- All the main political parties aside from UKIP suspended campaigning as Mrs May confirmed the election will go ahead
- Sick ISIS thugs celebrated attack and called for more atrocities
- Sadiq Khan confirms London Bridge Underground and National Rail stations will reopen today
Armed cops patrolled the area to keep the venue safe amid a heightened threat of terror.
But the burly police presence was countered by thousands of revellers dressing up in tops featuring a bee — a symbol for Manchester — and slogans expressing their love for the city.
Concert organisers were quick to say the event was still going ahead despite last night's horrific attack in London Bridge, where three jihadi terrorists carried out a brutal van and knife rampage.
Seven people were killed and 48 injured when the attackers ploughed through pedestrians along the iconic landmark before jumping out and slashing passersby at the busy Borough Market.
They were then shot dead in their fake bomb vests by armed cops within eight minutes of the attack being reported.
In Manchester, officers were drafted in from other parts of the country to ensure that the inspiring fundraiser could carry on without fear.
"We're here to show our support to Manchester more than anything. These people aren't going to dampen our spirits," said 34-year-old Abdullah Mala.
His eight-year-old daughter Hannah had left the Grande concert just before the deadly bombing and said she was "happy to be back" to see some of pop's biggest names.
Rachel Jea, 32, said she was at Grande's previous Manchester concert and felt it was important to attend Sunday's show to regain trust after the bombing.
"Our grandparents went through world wars so that we could live in freedom and now it's starting again. It just shouldn't be like this," she said.
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A courageous schoolgirl still in a wheelchair after being injured in the Manchester Arena bomb said being at the concert "meant the world to her".
Millie Mitchell, 14, was hit by shrapnel at the original concert, spent 24 hours in hospital and is still unable to fully walk.
Her dad, Alasdair, 43, was waiting outside the Arena to pick her up and spent a frantic seven minutes searching for his daughter after she rang him to say she had been hit.
Both were at Old Trafford Cricket Ground today and said the event shows that the terrorists will never win.
Millie said: “It means the world to be here. I feel lucky, happy and excited. I’m most looking forward to seeing Justin Bieber.
“I was hit by shrapnel in the blast. It was so surreal it didn’t feel like real life, everything I was doing was what my body was telling me, my mind wasn’t thinking.
“It is very important we don’t let them win. If we carry on going they’ve not achieved anything.”
Dad Alasdair said: “I was keen for Millie to come today and be in a crowd again so she feels comfortable with that in future and not worried."
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Elsewhere, groups of teenagers were pictured posing together in smiling defiance, with one pair wearing t-shirts with the slogan: "Love not hate."
Another group were seen with the slogan: "Never mind terrorism - we are Manchester"
Did you see the London Bridge terror attack, or know anyone involved? Please contact The Sun newsdesk on 020 7782 4100, text 07423720250 or email [email protected]
Confirming the concert went ahead smoothly, Event commander Chief Superintendent Stuart Ellison said: "Throughout the day we have stood united, welcomed visitors from across the country and paid tribute to those who tragically lost their lives in the attack at Manchester Arena."
He continued: "My thanks goes to those who joined us at the events today and remained patient as we carried out an increased number of searches to ensure everyone remained safe and enjoyed themselves.
"Finally, our thoughts remain with all those affected by the heartbreaking events of Monday May 22."
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The concert came two weeks after terror rocked Manchester and the country.
Concert-goers and parents arriving to collect their youngsters from an Ariana Grande gig were among those killed and injured when evil jihadi Salman Abedi detonated a nail bomb.
Twenty-two people lost their lives in the atrocity.
Related stories
- Bloodied victims of London Bridge terror attack hid in Borough Market pub, video footage shows
- Hero rugby player cop took on all THREE machete-wielding terrorists as they attacked innocent victims and continued fighting with just a baton until the savage trio stabbed him in the face
- London Bridge attack victim stabbed in throat with 12-inch hunting knife – but survived when blade missed major artery
- Sick ISIS thugs celebrate London Bridge terror attack that has left seven dead and dozens injured
- Donald Trump slams London mayor Sadiq Khan and calls on people to ‘stop being politically correct’ after London Bridge terror attack
- London Bridge attack cabbie tells of hero who ‘saved 20 lives’ using her body to barricade restaurant door, blocking terrorist
- Horror of London Bridge attack as woman cradles horrifically injured lover pleading ‘Don’t let those f****** get away with it’
- British cops in balaclavas and carrying assault rifles take to the capital’s streets after London Bridge terror attack
- Bystander ‘shot in the head’ and killed as London Bridge attack terror cops open fire on three knifemen
- London Bridge attack terrorist’s Barking flat raid sees armed cops arrest 12 people including women
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- How the London Bridge terror attack unfolded leaving seven dead and dozens critically injured
- LIVE BLOG: London Bridge attack latest live updates – Cops confirm three terrorists shot dead after jihadis kill seven and hurt 48
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In London on Saturday, three terrorists wearing fake bomb vests drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before attacking revellers with hunting knives on Saturday evening.
At least seven people died and 48 hurt following the attack which struck at 10:08pm.
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Staff at a packed pub locked the doors as the gang tried to smash their way in. One man was stabbed five times.
Assistant Commissioner of Met Police Mark Rowley confirmed that all three of the depraved attackers were shot and killed within eight minutes of the first call to emergency services.
Did you see the London Bridge terror attack, or know anyone involved? Please contact The Sun newsdesk on 020 7782 4100, text 07423720250 or email [email protected]
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