Youngest identified Manchester terror victim, 8, was 'beautiful little girl'
MANCHESTER, England — The first victim to be named in the terror attack here that left 22 dead and dozens injured was a huge fan of singer Ariana Grande, with whom she once proudly posed for a picture and posted it to social media.
Georgina Callander, 18, was at Grande's concert at the Manchester Arena on Monday night when she died in a blast blamed on a suicide bomber, who was also killed when his device was detonated.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. But, top U.S. intelligence official, Dan Coats, said the American government had not yet verified whether or how the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, was responsible.
Callander's death was confirmed by Runshaw College in Leyland, a small town about 34 miles northwest of Manchester. She grew up in Lancashire, a county in northwestern England.
In 2015, Callander posted a picture of herself posing alongside Grande on Instagram.
On Monday before the show she sent a Twitter message to Grande: "So EXCITED TO SEE YOU TOMORROW."
Callander was in the second year of a three-year health and social care course. The London Evening Standard reported that she died in a hospital in Manchester with her mother by her side.
Callander's friends paid tribute to her on social media. "I hope you rest in peace my darling," tweeted Sophie Jauregui, who identified herself as Callender's best friend.
The second victim to be named was Saffie Rose Roussos, who was just 8.
Her teacher at Tarleton Community Primary School described her as a "beautiful little girl in every aspect of the word" in a statement issued through Lancashire County Council. "She was loved by everyone and her warmth and kindness will be remembered fondly. Saffie was quiet and unassuming with a creative flair.”
Tarleton also sits to the northwest of Manchester, close to Leyland, where Callander was from.
John Atkinson, 26, from Bury, in the Greater Manchester area, was the third victim to be named. Online messages paid tribute to an “amazing young man," according to The Bolton News, a northwestern England newspaper that's part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.
Tracey Crolla said: "Thinking of all the Atkinsons at this very sad time. John Atkinson you turned into an amazing young man so kind and thoughtful you will be missed by everyone."
Bury Council leader Rishi Shori said Atkinson's death is "incredibly tragic."
Charlotte Campbell had appealed on social media and on TV for help in finding her daughter Olivia, 15, from Bury, who was missing during the chaos.
Early Wednesday, her mother announced her death on Facebook. "RIP my darling precious gorgeous girl Olivia Campbell taken far far to soon. Go sing with the angels and keep smiling mummy loves you so much," she wrote.
Kelly Brewster, 32, from the northern city of Sheffield was also killed. Ian Winslow, Brewster's boyfriend, announced her death on Facebook. “Kelly really was the happiest she has ever been and we had so many things planned together. My daughter Phoebe will be absolutely devastated like we all are," he wrote.
Alison Howe and Lisa Lees, two mothers from Royton in Greater Manchester who were killed as they waited to collect their daughters, were named early Wednesday. The women were friends.
A relative of Howe wrote on Facebook late Tuesday: “They took a caring beautiful mum and step mother away from us all she was amazing to us all x love you loads Alison Howexx” the Guardian reported.
Lee Hunter, Lees' brother, wrote in a Facebook post: “For those who don’t know, Lisa is gone but never, ever forgotten. I love you Lisa. I’ll miss you so much.”
Poland's foreign minister said Angelika, 40, and Marcin Klis, 42, a Polish couple who lived in York, northern England, were killed as they waited to collect their two daughters. Their daughter Alex, 20, who attended the concert, had appealed on Facebook for help finding them.
"The parents came after the concert to collect their daughters and unfortunately we have information that they are dead. The children are safe," Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told Polish radio station RMF FM on Wednesday. "We are appealing to Poles living in Manchester to take extra care and follow the advice of local authorities," he said.
Contributing: Jane Onyanga-Omara in London
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