Ariana Grande suspends European concert tour after Manchester bombing

Ariana Grande’s European tour has been suspended following the terror attack at her show at the Manchester Arena on Monday.

The American pop singer had been due to perform two concerts at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday and Friday. “Due to the tragic events in Manchester, the Dangerous Woman tour with Ariana Grande has been suspended until we can further assess the situation and pay our proper respects to those lost,” the tour’s promoters said in a statement on Wednesday.

Cancelled concerts include those in London this week, as well as all others until the one planned for 5 June in Switzerland.

The promoters added: “We ask at this time that we all continue to support the city of Manchester and all those families affected by this cowardice and senseless violence. Our way of life has once again been threatened but we will overcome this together. Thank you.”

Grande returned to her home town of Boca Raton in Florida on Tuesday.

Grande had left the stage after performing at the Manchester Arena when the bomb exploded as fans were leaving the sold-out venue, which has a 21,000-person capacity. At least 22 people were killed and 59 injured, with many more walking wounded.

While the O2 said an announcement would be made as soon as it had clear information, many concluded from Grande’s return home that the tour was off.

Hours after the attack, she tweeted: “Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.”

Musicians have continued to pay tribute to Grande and her fans. During a performance on the US season finale of The Voice on Tuesday night, Miley Cyrus dedicated her song to Grande and “everyone who experienced that horrific attack”. “Our hearts are with you,” she said.

In a statement on Monday, Grande’s manager, Scooter Braun, said: “Tonight our hearts are broken. Words cannot express our sorrow for the victims and families harmed in this senseless attack.

“We mourn the lives of children and loved ones taken by this cowardly act. We are thankful for the selfless service tonight of Manchester’s first responders who rushed towards danger to help save lives.

“We ask all of you to hold the victims, their families, and all those affected in your hearts and prayers.”

Take That, who were playing a show at the Liverpool Echo Arena when the attack happened, cancelled the following night’s show in the city and postponed the dates they were due to play in Manchester on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Blondie cancelled a concert in London on Tuesday “as a mark of respect for the victims of the terrible attack”.

But other gigs went ahead as planned. Simple Minds played at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, telling fans: “We would have felt cowardly just leaving town, especially Manchester, a place that has been great to us since the early days.”

Grande’s brother, Frankie Grande, is due to perform in Bush Hall in west London on Saturday night, and the venue believes the event will go ahead.

Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Harry Styles, Lorde, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna were among the other celebrities and pop stars who reacted to the attack.

Social media users have been sharing an image of bunny ears – often worn by Grande – in solidarity for the victims.

The British entertainer James Corden paid an emotional tribute to Manchester on CBS’s The Late Late Show on Monday night.

“Many of you won’t have ever been to Manchester but you will definitely have heard of it. It’s famous all over the world for so many wonderful things,” he said.

“Great football teams: Man City; Man United. Incredible music: Oasis and Joy Division. It was the birthplace of the leader of the suffragettes; it’s the home of the inventor of the first computer. It’s a place full of comedy and curries and character.

“But when I think of Manchester, the place that I know, I think of the spirit of the people there, and I’m telling you a more tight knit group of people you will be hard-pressed to find.

“Strong, proud, caring people with community at its core, and if it was even possible, the spirit of the people of Manchester will grow even stronger this evening.”