PARIS: Fans of Ariana Grande swamped to a Paris concert hall on Wednesday as the US pop star resumed her European tour following a suicide bombing at the end of her show in Manchester that killed 30 people.
There was tight security present outside Paris’ AccorHotels Arena, which leaded to the roads being blocked off to traffic hours surrounding the venue before the event started. Security staff searched all bags and police with sniffer dogs guarded the venue.
Paris police told the media that security measures were at their highest level because of the attacks in Manchester on May 22 and in central London on June 3 that killed a total of 30 people.
Grande, 23, suspended her tour after the bombing at Manchester Arena. But she returned to the city on Sunday for an all-star benefit concert for victims that raised some $3 million. This turned the loving celebrity singer into a hero.
Some teens on Wednesday admitted they were anxious and a bit scared about going to Grande’s concert after the attacks.
“She began touring again quite soon after the attacks and she really did a lot of things for Manchester. She raised lots of money for the families; she went to see the affected young girls. I admire her a lot for what she does,” 16-year old French fan Azliz Roult told Reuters Television.
“The excitement sort of replaces the fear, but it’s true that there is a part of me that is still a bit scared,” said Edith, a 16 year-old Parisian fan.