Making a tot cry, I arranged cruel act (8)

I believe the answer is:

atrocity

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'arranged cruel act' is the definition.
'atrocity' can be an answer for 'act' (atrocity is a kind of act). I'm unsure of the 'arranged cruel' bit.

'making a tot cry i' is the wordplay.
'making' is an anagram indicator.
'a'+'tot'+'cry'+'i'='atotcryi'
'atotcryi' is an anagram of 'ATROCITY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for atrocity that I've seen before include "Heinous deed" , "Evil act" , "'Barbarity, heinous act (8)'" , "Appalling act" , "Barbarous, inhuman act" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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