More than 10,000 people falsely claimed to be Manchester bombing survivors to get free tickets to Ariana Grande tribute concert
MORE than 10,000 people have falsely claimed they were at the Ariana Grande's concert targeted by terrorists to get free tickets to Sunday's tribute concert, it has been revealed.
Tickets for the gig sold out in just minutes this morning, with Ticketmaster slamming "opportunists or touts" who have been applying for the free tickets.
Ticketmaster today revealed 14,200 tickets had been set aside for those at last week's Ariana Grande concert - but they had received more than 25,000 applications to attend Sunday's gig for free.
A spokesperson said: "Sadly, over 10,000 unscrupulous applications have been made.
"At Ticketmaster we are doing everything we can – including extending today’s deadline - to ensure that tickets go to the actual fans and not the opportunists or touts who have also been applying for free tickets."
Fans eager to attend the concert were today disappointed when they were unable to buy tickets to the concert, claiming the website had kicked them out of the virtual queue.
One hopeful vented:"I knew it was going to be hard to get tickets but Ticketmaster aren't helping by kicking people off the website either".
Another added: "Tried so hard for one love tickets but ticketmaster crashed and didnt even let me on the page".
The massive gig, which is being organised by Live Nation, will be held at Manchester’s Old Trafford cricket ground almost two weeks after the horrifying terrorist attack at the city’s MEN Arena.
Another ticket hopeful wrote: "Was literally on the ticket buying screen and it kicked me off back in the queue wtf ticketmaster sort it out".
As of around 10.20am, the website was only listing its VIP major donor tickets which are priced at £2,500.
Other fans who had been able to register for free attendance to the event also raised concerns they hadn't been able to redeem their tickets - with Ticketmaster saying some applications had not been able to be verified.
The registration was opened again until 2pm.
It is hoped the concert, which will charge £40 per ticket, will raise at least £2million with all proceeds to be donated to the British Red Cross Society.
All Ariana Grande fans who were at last Monday’s tragic concert which saw 22 die will get free tickets for Sunday’s tribute gig.
Ticketmaster said: "Ticketmaster was unsurprisingly met with remarkable demand for One Love Manchester tickets we had on sale this morning – 140,000 fans were on the website and our call centre was buzzing.
"With over 450,000 searches on our site for One Love Manchester over the last 24 hours, demand was always going to be extremely high.
"We are happy to report that there are thousands of fans who successfully purchased tickets during the general sale."
Ticketmaster confirmed secondary ticket sites such as Viagogo had agreed not to resell tickets for the concert on their websites.
But concert-goers have been warned not to bring bags, with organisers saying it was due to "speed of entry" into the cricket ground.
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While booking a ticket, people can also make an additional donation to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.
Grande released a statement to announce the performance, saying: "My heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester Attack and their loved ones.
"There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better.
"However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way."
She added: "I’ll be returning 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."
The event will be broadcast live on BBC TV and radio as well as Capital radio, and streamed online.
The pop star flew straight back to the US after the terror attack and hadn’t spoken publicly about it until today.
But she did tweet “Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words”, in the immediate aftermath.
Uber will also make a donation to all fares taken to and from the gig.