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Tributes paid to police and staff

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Paul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, has paid tribute to transport police and railway staff who were among the first on the scene after the Manchester Arena suicide bomb attack.

‘The professionalism and compassion of railway staff and others working in the vicinity of Manchester Victoria on the night of the Manchester Arena bombing showed the positive side of what people are prepared to do for each other.

‘Colleagues across the railway are proud of staff working in the station, on trains, and in the surrounding area who went above and beyond their duties, rushing to the scene to help and comfort victims and working late into the night to help children and families get home safely in the aftermath of this atrocity.

‘The thoughts of everyone in the railway are with the victims, their loved ones and the people of Manchester.’

In London, BTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther visited the unnamed BTP officer who was stabbed and badly wounded in the London Bridge jihadi attack.

‘He showed enormous courage in the face of danger, as did many others who were at the scene and rushed to help,’ said Mr Crowther. ‘Although he is seriously unwell, he was able to recount how he faced the attackers armed only with his baton, outside London Bridge station.

‘For an officer who only joined us less than two years ago, the bravery he showed was outstanding and makes me extremely proud.

‘All of us at BTP wish him a swift recovery, and I know he will be touched by the hundreds of messages of support from across the UK and the world. Our thoughts are with all of those who died or were injured, and their loved ones as they try to come to terms with what happened.’

Armed police are now patrolling trains and stations. Members of the public and railway staff have been warned to be extra vigilant as the terror threat remains high.

Photo: lonndubh / Shutterstock.com

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