More than 150 survivors prepare civil claims, recounting harrowing experiences of being abandoned after the 2017 bombing

Survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing have spoken out, alleging that emergency services left them to die in the aftermath of the attack. Law firm Hudgell Solicitors is preparing civil claims on behalf of over 150 individuals who were caught in the blast. These survivors, many of whom were closest to the bomber Salman Abedi when he detonated his device, say they felt abandoned by the authorities during their most desperate moments.

Among the claimants are sisters Janet Senior, 64, and Josie Howarth, 66, from Knottingley, West Yorkshire. The pair were in the City Room foyer, waiting for their nieces after the Ariana Grande concert, when the bomb went off. Although they survived, Ms Howarth was left with two metal nuts lodged in her leg, and Ms Senior had a large nut embedded in her neck after her clavicle was shattered.

Ms Senior recounted the hour-long wait for help, a time she describes as haunting. “We were left with no assistance,” she said. “Josie was slipping in and out of consciousness, and I feared she was going to die. We were terrified and alone.” She vividly remembers the cries for help around her, the fading voices of those who had stopped asking for assistance as time passed. “We were left to die,” she said.

Both sisters criticised the lack of action from emergency services, claiming that while ordinary people acted as heroes to help, the response from authorities was disorganised and insufficient. “There were too many chiefs and not enough doers,” Ms Senior remarked, stating that she understood the hesitation to put rescuers in danger, but firmly believed the services had a duty to try to save lives.

Andrea Bradbury, a retired police officer with counter-terrorism experience, also spoke of the failures she witnessed. Having suffered only minor injuries herself, she saw first-hand the chaotic response to the attack. She believes the bombing was preventable and claims that a lack of preparedness from the police and emergency services led to further suffering. “The response was appalling,” she said. “It was a perfect storm of failures.” Bradbury, who was already on the phone to counter-terrorism within minutes of the blast, noted that the emergency services were unprepared, and even when teams arrived, they were hindered by delays.

Ruth Murrell, 52, and her daughter Emily, 18, also recounted the traumatic moments following the explosion. Ruth witnessed the death of a friend while she and Emily awaited help. Both mother and daughter have struggled with severe psychological scars from the event, as have their extended families. Ruth’s daughter Jessica, who had given up her concert ticket to let Emily attend, suffers from survivor’s guilt and required counselling.

The aftermath of the attack has left Ruth with long-lasting physical and emotional damage. After undergoing several surgeries and extensive therapy, she had to leave her job at a GP surgery, while Emily has had to relearn to walk after losing significant movement in her foot. “We were left in the foyer with no assistance, and people were dying around us,” Ruth said.

The survivors are now seeking compensation for their physical and psychological injuries, as well as loss of earnings and ongoing care. Their lawyer, representing over 150 clients, hopes the civil claims will bring attention to the many failures in the emergency response, which they argue could have been prevented with better planning and organisation.

“What happened at Manchester Arena was a shambles,” Ruth Murrell stated. “We know many mistakes were made. While we can’t change the past, we must ensure the right lessons are learned and the necessary improvements are made in future emergency responses.”

Jemma Mitchell Jailed for Life After Murdering Mee Kuen Chong and Transporting Her Body in Suitcase

Jemma Mitchell, 38, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 34 years for the brutal murder of her friend, Mee Kuen Chong, 67. Mitchell decapitated Chong in London in June 2021 and transported her body 320 kilometres (200 miles) in a suitcase, dumping it in a woodland area in Devon. This case is notable for being the first instance in the UK where someone was sentenced on television.

Judge Richard Marks described Mitchell as “extremely devious” and said the murder was “done for gain.” He also emphasised Mitchell’s lack of remorse and her calculated nature, adding that she had preyed upon the vulnerable Chong, who struggled with mental health issues.

Mitchell’s plan was driven by financial motives. The prosecution revealed that she had plotted to kill Chong after the latter refused to provide £200,000 for Mitchell’s home repairs. The court also discovered a fake will at Mitchell’s house, which would have left the majority of Chong’s estate to her.

The murder occurred when Mitchell visited Chong’s home with the intention of killing her. After the crime, Mitchell stored Chong’s body in the garden of the house she shared with her retired mother. On 26 June 2021, she placed the body in a suitcase, hired a car, and drove to Devon. A punctured tyre delayed her plans, which resulted in her being forced to seek assistance at a service station. The repairman described Mitchell as behaving oddly, and he also noted an unusual smell in the car.

Chong’s headless body was discovered by holidaymakers near Salcombe on 27 June, and her skull was later found nearby. Despite Mitchell’s claims of innocence, a pathologist’s report indicated that Chong had suffered head and rib fractures, likely caused by being placed in the suitcase or through attempts to revive her.

Mitchell, who had a background in osteopathy and human dissection, denied involvement in the murder but chose not to testify during her trial. She was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey after deliberating for seven hours.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, who led the investigation, described the crime as “truly despicable.” He also highlighted the extent of Mitchell’s planning and the cold-hearted nature of her actions. Mitchell’s financial desperation and calculated nature were central to the case, with the murder ultimately being driven by her desire to gain access to Chong’s money.

This case has shocked the public, and Mitchell’s sentence marks the end of a disturbing and calculated crime.

Former Danville Officer Andrew Hall Cleared Over Tyrell Wilson’s Death During Confrontation

A former police officer, already serving a prison sentence for a previous fatal shooting, will not face charges over the 2021 killing of Tyrell Wilson, a mentally ill Black man, during a confrontation in Danville, California. Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton confirmed on Friday that no charges would be filed against Andrew Hall, 33, in connection with the death of Wilson, who was holding a knife when officers responded to a call regarding rocks being thrown from an overpass.

Hall, who is currently serving a six-year sentence for the 2018 shooting of Laudemer Arboleda, was involved in the March 2021 incident that led to Wilson’s death. Wilson, 32, who had schizophrenia, was killed after a tense standoff with Hall. Video footage of the incident, captured by a nearby motorist, shows Wilson moving away from Hall before the officer opened fire, fatally shooting Wilson in the head within 32 seconds of the initial encounter.

Becton stated that while the case was complex, her office did not have sufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges, explaining that Hall’s actions could be justified as self-defence. “This was a difficult and challenging case,” she said, adding that the loss of Wilson’s life was deeply felt in the community.

Wilson’s family and their lawyer, John Burris, strongly disagreed with the decision. Burris argued that Hall’s response was excessive and that Wilson’s mental health issues should have been considered when assessing the situation. He believes that a prosecution could have been warranted and that earlier intervention in Hall’s first fatal shooting might have prevented the second tragedy.

The killing has raised further questions regarding the role of race, with Hall being white and Wilson being Black. Critics point to the fact that Danville is a predominantly white town, and Hall’s previous history of using lethal force has compounded suspicions about systemic issues within the police force.

The confrontation began when Hall and other officers arrived at the scene of a reported disturbance involving Wilson, who was carrying a knife. According to the prosecutor’s report, Wilson told Hall not to touch him, brandished the knife, and moved away while threatening the officer. When Wilson allegedly stepped towards Hall with the knife raised, Hall shot him.

Tyrell Wilson’s tragic death, alongside that of Laudemer Arboleda, has sparked protests and legal action. Civil rights lawsuits have been settled by the county, which also provided police officers to Danville under a contract. Hall’s actions continue to divide opinion, and Wilson’s family is considering asking the state attorney general or U.S. attorney to review the case.

Richard Allen, 50, Detained Over Murders of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi

Richard Allen, a 50-year-old man, has been arrested in relation to the 2017 murders of two Indiana schoolgirls, Abby Williams and Libby German, in Delphi. Authorities took Allen into custody on Friday, marking a significant breakthrough in the high-profile case. The arrest comes more than five years after the girls were tragically killed.

Allen was initially booked into Carroll County Jail in Delphi before being transferred to a state facility for his safety, according to reports. Although the exact charges are still unclear, law enforcement officials have described the arrest as a “major development,” and a press conference by Indiana State Police is scheduled for Monday.

Following the arrest, Kelsi German, Libby’s sister, expressed her gratitude on social media, writing: “Today is the day. Just know how grateful I am for all of you.”

The arrest of Allen is the first time he has been publicly linked to the murders, which have long remained unsolved. Abby, 13, and Libby, 14, vanished on 13 February 2017 while hiking at the Monon High Bridge near Delphi. Their bodies were discovered the following day, around half a mile off the trail.

Authorities have yet to reveal the cause of death, but a crucial piece of evidence emerged in the form of a Snapchat video recorded by Libby during the hike. The footage, released last year, shows a man approaching the girls while a voice instructs them to “down the hill.” The suspect remains unidentified, though he is described as a white male between 16 and 40 years old, standing between 5’6” and 5’10” tall, and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds.

In a separate development, Indiana State Police revealed last December that a fake social media account, “anthony_shots,” may have been used to lure the girls on their hike, potentially through a process known as catfishing. The account was allegedly used to solicit inappropriate images and attempt to arrange in-person meetings.

The investigation into the case has uncovered further chilling details. Court documents obtained by The Murder Sheet podcast in May suggested that the girls’ bodies had been staged, with the killer possibly taking items from the scene as trophies. FBI search warrants also indicated that the victims suffered significant blood loss and were not killed where their bodies were found.

In August, investigative hosts Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee revealed that police had been searching the Wabash River, about 35 miles east of Delphi, in connection with the case.