MOURNERS lit candles, laid flowers and held a minute's silence to remember the 22 people killed in a terrorist attack.

The peace vigil at the Peace Fountain in East Park was organised by the city council in memory of the victims who lost their lives.

The atrocity took place last Monday after an Ariana Grande pop concert at Manchester Arena and many of the injured are still being treated in hospital.

The attack was carried out by a lone male suicide bomber who detonated an improvised explosive device in a public space near the box office.

In the wake of the attack, armed police have been deployed across Hampshire in public places, including at the weekend's Common People festival on Southampton Common.

Southampton city councillor Satvir Kaur, cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, told the crowd at the event this afternoon: "It is humbling to see so many people here of all ages and backgrounds.

"We stood here after brutal attacks in Paris, Orlando, the murder of MP Jo Cox, and now to show solidarity with the great city of Manchester and its people.

"This murderer has no race, no religion. His sole motivation was to pull apart the fabric of our society.

"But we cannot and will not let this happen.

"We must look to our communities, families and friends."

Rashid Brora, chairman of Southampton Medina Mosque, said: "Anybody who kills innocent people is not a Muslim. They are ordinary criminals just trying to divide us as a human race."

Abdoulie Sanneh, chairman of Southampton's United Voices of African Associations said: "I have lived in this city for the last 15 years and all my children were born here.

"When we heard this news we were devastated."

"We see the person as an individual with cruel intentions for the community.

"I know Southampton has been a stronghold of multiculturalism and we always come together with events like this."

Jonathan Frost, bishop of Southampton, said: "When evil raises its head, what do we do? We recognise the beauty of this place - the city in which people from around the world work and play.

"We recognise the friends we have been given."