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Manchester attack: Queen calls bombing 'very wicked' and praises Ariana Grande as she visits victims

Manchester attack: Queen calls bombing 'very wicked' and praises Ariana Grande as she visits victims

The Queen has visited Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to meet victims of the terrorist attack that killed 22 people in the city on Monday night.

She spent time talking to and thanking medical staff who have worked tirelessly since the incident.

Twelve children under the age of 16 were taken to the hospital following the bomb at the Manchester Arena - five of whom remain in critical care.

The Queen told victim Evie Mills, 14, and her parents: "It's dreadful. Very wicked. To target that sort of thing."

Evie, from Harrogate, had got tickets to the concert as a birthday present.

The monarch told the youngster she thought Ariana Grande was a "very good singer", adding: "She sounds very, very good."

She told Evie's parents that "everyone is united" following the attack.

One of the young victims, 12-year-old Emily Murrell, was forced to miss the visit as she received surgery.

Mum Ruth, who was also hit with shrapnel and is still recovering in hospital, said her daughter would be incredibly disappointed but spoke to the monarch in her absence.

The Queen was escorted around wards by Kathy Cowell, the chairman of Central Manchester University Hospital.

Prime Minister Theresa May also visited the hospital to meet the victims and members of staff on 23 May.

Salman Abedi detonated an explosive device at an Ariana Grande concert with children as young as eight dying in the attack.

Investigators believe Abedi was part of a larger Isis-inspired terror network, pointing to the relative sophistication of the bomb he used to massacre 22 people and injure more than 60 others.

It was the worst act of terrorism on British soil since 56 people were killed in 2005's 7 July London bombings.

Abedi’s father and two brothers have been arrested by counter-terrorism forces as investigations continue.

The total number of people in UK custody relating to the incident currently stands at eight.

Press Association contributed to this report.