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A vigil in Birmingham for the Manchester Arena victims has been cut short after a man allegedly armed with "a small axe and a large stick" was detained by police nearby.

The unnamed man, 39, shouted out while being handcuffed and led away by officers with West Midlands Police, just a short distance from where 1,000 people had gathered in the city’s main Victoria Square.

Speakers who had been paying tribute to the Manchester victims were interrupted by the man’s loud protests, from down a side street.

Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, adding that he was known to them and is thought to have a history of mental ill-health.

Hundreds had turned out to the vigil in support of the victims of the suicide attack, which killed 22 and injured dozens more

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(Image: snappersk)

Police, including armed response officers, then cleared the square a short time later, the Birmingham Mail reports.

The force’s chief constable David Thompson - who had been attending the vigil in an official capacity - witnessed some of the incident.

He confirmed the evacuation of the square, in front of the council house, had been a precaution.

Superintendent Andy Parsons said: “Officers spotted the man acting suspiciously and spoke to him. At this point they have arrested him.

“The man was carrying a bag, and as a precaution, Victoria Square where the vigil was being held was cleared for around 15 minutes.

“A small axe was recovered along with a large stick.

“We will be interviewing the man to understand his intentions after mental health experts have assessed his condition.

“I’d like to thank people for the calm and collected way in which they responded to the incident. The professionalism of our officers who responded to the incident is also commendable and indicative of British policing.”

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Made in Birmingham TV reporter Olivia Marks shared footage on Twitter of the incident just after 7pm.

She wrote: “A man has been arrested in Birmingham at the vigil in Victoria Square to remember Manchester attack victims. Investigation is now underway.”

It came after a touching vigil in which Brummies expressed solidarity with the Manchester victims.

Zeshan Ali, 33, from Hodge Hill, came with his wife and two children aged 11 and eight.

The incident came as vigils across Britain stood in an act of solidarity this afternoon as London, Bristol, Glasgow and Belfast joined a huge turnout in Manchester this afternoon.

Declaring they will not be "beaten" or "intimidated", thousands of Mancunians gathered in the centre of Manchester in a show of defiance after last night's terror attack.

(Image: Birmingham Mail) (Image: Birmingham Mail)

Crowds brandished placards with "I Love MCR" and other messages of support as they spilled from Albert Square on to nearby roads.

It's now known 22 people died and 120 more were injured in the attack by a suicide bomber at last night's Ariana Grande concert at the city's Arena.

Lu Bowen, 40, brought flowers to the Manchester event to lay as a mark of respect, and said it has been a "horrific" day.

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Standing alongside her teenage daughter Lucy, she said: "We watched it all unfold last night

"We felt we wanted to show a sense of solidarity and commitment that Manchester always has.

"When the chips are down, Manchester always pulls together."

With a nod to one of the city's football teams, one man posted about this aerial view of the crowds at the vigil on social media:

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She said some of her friends felt nervous about the prospect of coming into the city on Tuesday night, adding: "I personally just want to make a stand that even if my friends felt a bit nervous, I felt it was very important to prove that I won't be beaten, intimidated.

"And also, people have lost loved ones. If it was me, I'd want to see this."

Lucy said she had friends at the concert who were "shaken up".

She added: "A few of them didn't come into school."

Her mother said: "It's been a horrific day. But we all feel the same here. We're here together."

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Jeremy Corbyn , Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd and Andy Burnham were among the thousands of people attending the vigil.

Councillor Eddy Newman, Lord Mayor of Manchester, praised incredible turnout.

The Bishop of Manchester also commented on the ‘unbelievable turnout.

He said: “They are the few, we are the many. We are Manchester.”

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Chief Constable Ian Hopkins addressing the huge crowd said: "Colleagues will be heartened by your support today. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“In the most atrocious circumstances people in Greater Manchester showed the world how we care.

“We must all live in harmony together as we stand together to defeat terrorism.”

The crowd held a minute’s silence.

The square fell silent as they remembered the lives of those who died.

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Poet Tony Walsh read his poem ‘This Is The Place’ at the vigil - to a rapturous reception, sparking ripples of laughter, lightening the mood as the sun beamed on the Town Hall.

He described the city as "ace", hailed its "brilliant music" and ability to "make things from steel" and said Mancunians "make people laugh" and "welcome".

In a poignant moment he referred to the "Mancunian way to survive" and "northern grit", and said: "In the face of a challenge we always stand tall."

He added: "We keep fighting back with Greater Manchester spirit."Poet Tony Walsh said: "We stand here in a truly great city, in a truly great city region.

"It falls to me to try and sum up what makes this city, its people, its communities so great."

He read his poem This Is The Place before adding: "Forever Manchester. Choose love Manchester".

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Virgils have also been held in other cities including Glasgow and Belfast.

Hundreds of people, including young children, gathered at a Glasgow vigil in George Square to show support and pay their respects.

A two-minute silence was held before a wreath was laid by Lord Provost Eva Bolander.

Others who had gathered placed candles, flowers and a teddy in the square.

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The council said the people of Manchester were among Glasgow's "closest friends" and the union flag flew at half-mast above the City Chambers.

Ms Bolander said: "This was the height of cowardice and truly evil.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Manchester to show strength, love and deep sympathy for all people affected."

Among the crowd of around 200 people in George Square was Joanne Toward and her daughters Carly, 10, and Kayla, six.

She held back tears as she said: "It's heartbreaking. Carly is at the age where she wants to go to concerts and things, it's just too sad.

"We just want to pay our respects in some way."

Council leader Susan Aitken said Glasgow had faced a terrorist attack 10 years ago at the city's airport and that citizens would support the people of Manchester.

She said: "We didn't let it divide us, we supported each other, we stood in solidarity and we will do so again with each other here in Glasgow and people across the UK."

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Ms Aitken added: "This (attack) is very close to home in a city that we have a great deal in common with.

"It's a devastating attack of terror and all we can do is send out love, our sympathy and our condolences and say that we stand in solidarity."

Thomas Kerr attended the vigil because he wanted to pay his respects.

"I was in tears this morning when I found out that one little girl was eight - my little sister is just seven and that really hit home.

"It's absolutely shocking and I just want to show my respect and stand in solidarity."

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Two teenagers from Barra remain unaccounted for and at least four people were treated in hospitals in Scotland, none with life-threatening injuries, after the attack.

In Belfast, a small group gathered outside the gates of Belfast City Hall for a vigil in memory of the victims.

They held posters which said: "We stand together. Manchester."

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Amnesty International's Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said it sent a message of support.

"Tonight's vigil outside City Hall is really a spontaneous response by members of the local community and really it is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the citizens of Manchester from the citizens of Belfast.

"To say we share your pain, and it is a response that is about a sense of community, a sense of humanity and the simple message tonight is we stand together."