A defiant vigil was held in Manchester earlier Tuesday (May 23), remembering the 22 people who died and dozens more injured in Monday’s suicide bomb attack.

 Thousands of people gathered in Albert Square, in the heart of the city, in a moving display of remembrance to those who lost their lives and defiance against those that caused the barbaric terror attack, which came at the end of a sell-out Ariana Grande gig at the city’s 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena, less than 24 hours earlier.

Many of those killed were children, with 8-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos among the first victims named. Teenager Georgina Callander and 28-year-old John Atkinson have also been named among the dead.

Many of those attending the vigil carried "I heart Manchester" banners and placards or laid flowers at a nearby makeshift memorial. Members of Manchester’s Sikh community were also on hand, giving out free soft drinks to the still visibly shell-shocked and numbed residents seeking solace in the company of friends and others, united by grief.

Eddy Newman, Manchester’s lord mayor, opened the 30-minute vigil by paying tribute to the emergency services, who had worked through the night -- and continue to treat the dozens of injured in Manchester hospitals -- caught up in the blast.

"The people of Manchester will remember the victims forever and we will defy the terrorists by all our diverse communities working together cohesively and with mutual respect,” Newman said to thunderous applause, adding, "We are the many, they are the few."

British Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Manchester Metro mayor Andy Burnham also attended the vigil, which began at 18:00 British Summer Time.