'Strength to Manchester': Toronto reacts to deadly concert bombing

Staff and visitors at Toronto's British Consulate arrived Tuesday morning to find a message of solidarity emblazoned on their front sidewalk: "Strength to Manchester."

It comesa day after 22 people were killed and dozens more injured in a bombing outside an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.

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"I wanted to do it because the people at the consulate would be coming into work with very heavy hearts this morning," said artist VictorFraser.

Fraser painted the message on the pavement Mondaynight after learning of the attack. He had previously left a message reading "strength" with a Union Jackin front of the consulate after the 2005 London bombings.

"It's very important to me as a free Canadian artist to battle back to these acts of hate," he said.

Toronto's Manchester connections

The attack is weighing heavily on the minds of other Torontonians, including the many who follow Manchester'shugely popular soccer team, Manchester United F.C.

"It's quite shocking and disheartening," said Graham Pate, treasurer of theManchester United Supporters Club of Canada.

Pate and other club members have visited to watch matchesand some have friends and family in Manchesteryear round.The clubstartedchecking in on people in the city after learning of the attack.

"Everyone that I know personally was okay, but quite shaken and rattled," Pate said.

Toronto venues respond

Maple LeafSports and Entertainment (MLSE) says it will roll out "heightened security measures," at the Air Canada Centre (ACC) in the wake of the attack, though the companydid not specify what those measures will be. Hometown artistTheWeekndwill performconcertson Friday and Saturday at the ACC.

MLSEalready uses metal detectors and wands, performs bag checks and employs bomb-sniffing dogs during events.

The Toronto Blue Jays, operators of theRogers Centre, did not indicate that they are considering any immediate security changes.

"The Toronto Blue Jays are constantly reviewing its security policies in conjunction with the Toronto Police Services, [Major League Baseball] Security and other law enforcement agencies. The disturbing and tragic events of [Monday]evening will only reinforce our efforts," the Blue Jays said in a statement.