Queen condemns 'wicked' Manchester terror attack as she meets victims on visit to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

Robert Jobson25 May 2017

The Queen met victims of the Manchester bombing in a poignant visit to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital today.

Her Majesty called the massacre "wicked" as she met children injured in the blast as well as emergency staff who worked throughout the night in the aftermath of terror attack.

Twelve children under the age of 16 - among the 64 casualties - were taken to the hospital by ambulance following the terror attack.

The same hospital was visited by Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday afternoon.

Twenty-two people were killed and 59 wounded in the attack carried out by the mass murderer Salman Abedi.

The Queen personally gave her thanks to the heroic hospital staff who worked tirelessly to keep the children alive in the hours after the tragedy.

The monarch, 91, spent time at the bedside of Millie Robson, 15, from Co Durham, who was wounded in the attack. Her mother, Marie, and dad, David were at her bedside.

The Queen met staff at the hospital.
PA

The Queen asked Millie, who suffered injuries to her legs, if she had enjoyed the concert before the attack, prompting the teenager to reveal she had won two VIP passes and met the global superstar backstage.

The royal described the atrocity as "very alarming" and wished Millie a speedy recovery.

"It's not something you expect at all," the Queen said to father David, who was waiting at the exit of the arena for Millie when the bomb exploded.

She also spent time with Evie Mills, 14, from Harrogate, and her mother, Karen and father Craig.

Manchester Arena Terror Attack: Victims

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The Queen told victim Evie and her parents: "It's dreadful. Very wicked. To target that sort of thing."

Millie Robson, 15, was wearing an Ariana Grande t-shirt as she met and shared words with the royal visitor.

The Queen also met Amy Barlow, 12, from Helmshore, Lancashire.

The Queen visits Manchester victims

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She was joined by mum Cathy - who said she had not left the hospital since the pair were caught up in the attack - and dad Grant.

The group discussed the incredible community response to the atrocity before the Queen departed.

Earlier, the Queen described her shock at the targeting of young victims as she met several groups of clinicians, doctors, nurses and porters - all of whom had contributed to the emergency effort.

"The awful thing was that everyone was so young. The age of them," she told one member of staff.

She learnt about the role each had played on the night - including how many had come in from home to offer their help - and commended them for "coming together".

The royal visitor was met by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren Smith as she arrived.

Her visit came shortly after staff gathered outside the hospital for a minute's silence, when they remembered those who had lost their lives, before bursting into spontaneous applause.

Children as young as eight were among those killed when Salman Abedi, 22, detonated an improvised explosive device minutes after pop star Ariana Grande finished performing at Manchester Arena on Monday night.

Her visit came shortly after people up and down the UK held a moving silence to remember the victims.

Millions of people have observed a minute's silence marking the nation's solidarity with those who were killed and injured in the blast as well as others affected by the atrocity.

The largest gathering was in St Ann's Square in Manchester, where thousand stood around the floral tributes that have been laid since the tragedy on Monday.

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