Durham student who survived Manchester Arena bombing speaks at UN

Alicia Taylor was just 13 when her life changed forever after a bomb was set off in the foyer of Manchester Arena at the end of an Ariana Grande.

The Durham University student has recalled how the traumatic experience led her to fall “into a hermit-like existence”, and says her school failed to support her after suffering huge mental trauma. Now Miss Taylor, 19, has spoken at a United Nations conference in New York about how young people caught up in terrorist attacks can be better supported.

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Recalling the horrific night of May 22 2017, Alicia told The Northern Echo: “My school totally failed to support me after what happened. I felt the lack of support invalidated my injuries.

Alicia, aged 13, before the attack which she says 'ended her childhood'. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“My scars weren’t physical but the emotional and mental injuries from being there weren’t dealt with or even spoken about by them.

“I went into a hermit-like existence. I didn’t want to form relationships with anyone or go out into town.

“I always say that day was the day by childhood ended - to see something so awful at 13 years-old has a massive impact on you.

“About a year later they held an unannounced bomb alarm – it totally set me back.

“In the UK there were no support systems in place for this kind of thing happening.”

Alicia’s mum Christine was also at the arena on the night of the heinous attack and has been left deaf in one ear from the bomb exploding. Alicia, who now studies English Literature at Durham University, recalled how her mum searched through the rubble at the arena, fearing she had died.

Alicia Taylor and mum Christine. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Now the Durham student, who is part of the survivors’ choir and is taking part in a research project studying how young people can be supported after major attacks and spoke at a UN conference in New York on the issue last month.

The choir also performed a song written by one of their members, titled ‘Never Let Go’, in the UN General Assembly Hall during the conference.

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She added: “I only received the phone call in July so it was quite a whirlwind few weeks.

“We received training on how to speak and effectively communicate our message beforehand and I spoke in front of about 100 to 150 people. It was an insane opportunity.

Alicia spoke at the UN on September 9. Picture: UN (Image: UN)

“We did get a chance to relax a bit too and did some sightseeing and visited the 9/11 memorial which was very moving for me.”

Alicia is part of the Bee The Difference research project, which is calling for young survivors of the attack who were under 18 at the time to answer a survey to help identify how young people’s needs can be better met after incidents.

Alicia Taylor is now studying English Literature at Durham University. Picture: NORTHERN ECHO (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Speaking at the end of the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism said: “Today, all of us here are convinced that our solidarity and support for victims should continue to move from rhetoric to reality.

Mr. Voronkov echoed the Call to Action from victims of terrorism including Alicia, saying: “They [the victims] called for a comprehensive approach to fulfilling their rights and needs. We heard the message. Now, we must act.”

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