Festivals such as Longitude, Electric Picnic, Reading & Leeds, Parklife, Latitude and Download Festival have posted similar statements on their official accounts offering their sympathy to the victims. They have also assured festival goers that the festivals due to take place over the summer will still be going ahead as planned.

Here is the statement posted on Longitude Festival’s official Facebook account:

“For the next 48 hours, our social media activity will be silent in sympathy with all those that lost their lives or were injured, physically and/or mentally, by the devastating attack in Manchester last night. Our thoughts are with those affected as well as the emergency services working tirelessly to keep us safe in all that we do.
We will update on Thursday morning with our updated plans for all of our shows following a lead from the relevant police forces but we are certain we will not be defeated by such cowardice and are therefore confirming that Longitude Festival will be going ahead as planned.”

So far, officials have confirmed 22 people were killed and 59 others have been injured in the tragedy that took place at Manchester Arena last night following an Ariana Grande concert. Fans had been leaving the venue when a bomb exploded in the foyer of the arena, also killing the lone attacker. Officials have confirmed that a 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attack.