Firefighters slam bosses for delaying response to Manchester Arena bombing
Firefighters have blasted their bosses for holding them back from rushing to the Manchester Arena after the deadly suicide bombing. They say they were left “emotional and shaken” after being forced to wait nearly 90 minutes before being allowed to respond to the attack that killed 22 and injured dozens more.
Delayed response sparks anger
Despite receiving alerts soon after the 10.33pm blast on Monday, 20 firefighters across five appliances only arrived at the scene well over an hour later. Gary Keary, Brigade Secretary for the 1 Brigades Union, revealed the crews were more upset about the delay than what they encountered at the carnage.
“The people I spoke to on Tuesday were emotional and shaken, but more by the fact they had been delayed than by what they had seen,” said Keary. “Once we did mobilise, our crews did everything they could.”
Questions over fire chiefs’ decision-making
Keary called the delay “an obvious question mark,” urging answers from those in charge. Greater Manchester Fire Brigade is one of the UK’s biggest, with 41 stations and 56 emergency vehicles at their disposal. Yet they were prevented from deploying swiftly when every second counted.
The delay is now under scrutiny as families and survivors demand to know why emergency crews were held back during one of Britain’s worst terror attacks.
