Manchester Arena bombing anniversary – how is the city remembering the victims of the attack today?
MANCHESTER is marking the first anniversary of the Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande gig with series of musical events.
A total of 22 people lost their lives when Salman Abedi detonated a home-made device at the end of the concert.
Manchester Together - With One Voice
The event, called Manchester Together - With One Voice will take place tonight, bringing a number of choirs from around the city together as well as some from further afield.
It is being held in Albert Square and is free to everyone, starting from 7pm.
The final hour from 8.30pm will be a communal singalong.
Ariana Grande's song One Last Time, Elbow’s One Day Like This, Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger and Never Forget by Take That will be performed.
The event will start with video messages before a short civic introduction.
Then more 80 choirs will united for the choral performance at 7.30pm, with the mass singalong finale between 8.30pm and 9.30pm
Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said it was "only fitting" for music to mark the date.
He said: “Music is in Manchester’s soul and it is only fitting that it should play a central part in marking what will be an emotional anniversary.
"We saw in the aftermath of the 22 May attack how spontaneous song captured the city’s spirit, its solidarity and refusal to give in to hatred.”
A crowd broke into a rendition of Don't Look Back In Anger by Oasis at a vigil after the attack.
Anniversary memorial service
From 2pm today a civic memorial service will take place at Manchester Cathedral for an invited congregation.
It will be screened in Cathedral Gardens for the public as well as at York Minster, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral.
Prince William and Prime Minister Theresa May will be among those attending.
It will include a minute's silence at 2.30pm.
Families of the bombing victims, the injured, the first responders to the scene as well as civic leaders and other national figures will be attending.
What else is planned?
The five-day vigil There Is A Light, is taking place from May 22-26.
Lyrics from songs chosen by victims and the general public will be reflected on to the pavements and buildings in St Ann's Square.
St Ann's Church will host an Embracing Manchester art exhibition, which has been inspired by a young Muslim man.
The church is also holding a flower festival until May 23.
The council has planned a Trees of Hope Trail, which will invite people to leave messages and tributes on trees placed around the city centre in the days before the anniversary.
At 10.31pm, bells will ring out from the city's Town Hall, St Ann's Church and St Mary's RC Church to mark the moment when the attack took place 12 months ago.
MORE ON THE MANCHESTER ATTACK
The city also hosted the Great Manchester Run on May 20, which included a one-minute silence for the victims of the attack.
Salman Abedi, 22, detonated his bomb device at the end of the concert with 353 people, including 175 children, around him in the foyer of the venue.
A total of 22 people were killed and more than 800 others were either physically or psychologically injured.