Candles lit in St Anne's Cathedral Belfast for Manchester terror victims

Special prayers are being said, and people wishing to take time out to pray and light a candle are being invited to call into the Cathedral today and over the next few days.

The Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev John Mann, said: “It is with deep sadness that we awoke this morning to the news from Manchester.

“So many lives lost and injured, the likelihood being that many are children.

“Our hearts go out to all the families involved and our prayers are with them today, and will be in the coming days as this devastating attack brings such sorrow to so many.”

Dean Mann continued: “We also remember in our prayers the members of the emergency services and all whose trauma at these events must be acute, even as they seek to assist others.

“In the communities, schools, churches and other faith centres, whose prayers and concern for those of their members will be deeply felt, may they know the support that is being prayed for by those across the country and around the world who seek to uphold them, as best we can, in this time of such distress.”