Security at Manchester Benefit Concert Expected to be Tight
Ariana Grande and company are playing a benefit concert to raise funds for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing. Here’s how they’ll keep it safe.
Just two weeks after a terrorist detonated a suicide bomb killing 22 people and injuring dozens more after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena, the pop artist is coming back to the city with friends to put on a benefit concert to raise money for the victims and their families. The question is: how to you secure the concert?
Grande’s One Love Manchester concert will be held on June 4 at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester with stars like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Usher, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and others expected to perform. Over 25,000 people are expected to show up as tickets sold out online within minutes of going on sale.
Security experts were skeptical of the idea of holding a benefit concert so close to the day of the terrorist attack, which happened on the night of May 22, as Manchester remains in high terrorism alert status. Greater Manchester Police are expected to line the perimeter of the venue to beef up security and the venue has already released statements that no bags will be allowed into the performance.
Attendees will go through more rigorous security than they did for the show at Manchester Arena and security professionals and police are hoping that fans are willing to put up with the longer checkpoint lines so that they can ensure the safety of the concert.
David Katz, former U.S. Federal Agent and CEO of Global Security Group, Inc., told Fox News the concert’s message is more important.
"The crowd inside is easy to protect; access control will detect any attempt to bring in a device or any weapon. That is why they attacked outside after the concert ended,” Katz said. “Hold the concert and show these miscreants that we will not be intimidated by their cowardly attacks."