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Manchester victim families to share millions from charitable fund

The families of the 22 Manchester bombing victims will each receive more than $400,000.

The families of the 22 Manchester bombing victims will each receive more than $400,000. Photo: Twitter

The families of the 22 people killed during the Manchester terror attack on an Ariana Grande concert will receive £250,000 (A$411,000) from a special charitable fund.

The We Love Manchester Emergency Fund announced Wednesday morning (AEST) it had raised £18 million (A$30 million) from the public with the help of Grande, who staged the One Love Manchester benefit concert at Old Trafford cricket ground in June.

“The payments will ensure the families benefit from the phenomenal outpouring of public support following the attack,” the fund said in a statement.

As well as the One Love Manchester concert – which featured music stars  Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry among others – Grande also re-released her song One Last Time and a cover of the Wizard of Oz track Somewhere Over the Rainbow, with all proceeds donated to the bombing victims.

The fund’s chair of trustees, Manchester Councillor Sue Murphy, said city and the world responded with “such extreme kindness, generosity and solidarity in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack”.

The We Love Manchester fund said bereaved families had already been able to claim £70,000 each (A$115,000) from the fund, along with access to free counselling.

ariana grande

Much of the funds raised came via Grande’s concert and music sales. Photo: BBC

As well killing 22 people – many of them children –  the suicide bombing at Manchester Arena on May 22 left dozens of people with serious injuries.

The 57 injured victims who spent seven or more nights in the hospital have also received £60,000 (A$99,000) from the fund.

“We will now spend some time looking at how we will distribute the rest of the funds,” Ms Murphy said.

“This will be a complex and sensitive process as we will need to assess the long-term impacts of the attack. We will issue an update as soon as we know more.”

The news of the payout comes as the Manchester City Council announced a second charity to pay for specifically for victims’ memorials.

The BBC reported that an advisory group of Manchester civic and business leaders is being formed to advise the city council on all memorial-related issues and will include consultations with the victims’ families.

The council said this advisory group would be “crucial in determining the form and location of any permanent commemorations”.

– With agencies

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