Queen Elizabeth II visits young victims of Manchester bombing

Queen Elizabeth II (R) visits the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital to meet victims of the Manchester Arena attack, in Manchester, Britain, May 25, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

LONDON -- Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Manchester Thursday to visit children and young people injured in Monday's terror bombing at the Manchester Arena.

As well as meeting casualties recovering and being treated for their injuries at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, the Queen spoke to doctors and nurses who worked throughout the night and the following days saving the lives of the injured.

Among the patients who the Queen spoke with was 15-year-old Millie Robson from County Durham in northeast England. Her mom Marie sat at her bedside as they chatted with the Royal visitor. The hospital is treating 14 injured children, with five of them described as critically ill.

Her visit came as NHS England reported that the number of people who have received in-patient hospital treatment as a result of injuries sustained in Monday's attack has reached 116.

An NHS spokesman said 23 of the injured are currently in critical care suffering from serious injuries.

The Queen's arrival came shortly after more than 1,000 people gathered in the city's St Ann's Square during a nationwide one-minute silence. The crowd, many with tears streaming down their faces, stood alongside city leaders as a tribute to the dead and injured.

At the end of the tribute they broke into applause and sang "Don't Look Back In Anger," the song performed by Manchester rock band Oasis and written by band member Noel Gallagher.

In London, British Prime Minister Theresa May chaired a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee and said later that the threat level will remain at "critical" in Britain, indicating a possible imminent attack.

May said eight suspects remained in custody as part of the investigation by Greater Manchester Police.

A woman arrested at an apartment block in the city has been released. All of those being held at police stations in Manchester are male. The eight include two men arrested by counter terror police on Thursday morning, one in Manchester and another at an undisclosed location.