A suicide bomber detonated an explosive at the end of pop star Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, killing 22 people (including children) and injuring 59 people. The explosion happened at the foyer of the Manchester Arena, where the concert was being held, on Monday night. BBC reports that eyewitnesses described seeing metal nuts and bolts strewn across the floor and the smell of explosives tight after the bombing. More than 240 emergency calls were made from the scene.
According to initial reports, it has been confirmed that a lone male suicide bomber detonated a home-made bomb and died on the spot. There are, however, no confirmed reports of the attacker being affiliated to any known terrorist organization. Despite this, the police force is going to treat this blast as a terror attack and is working with counter-terrorism force and intelligence agencies for the investigation. British Prime Minister Theresa May also condemned the incident as “an appalling terrorist attack” in a statement.
The areas surrounding the Manchester Arena have been sealed off, including the nearby Victoria Station. All train services, to and from the station, have also been cancelled. The locals are now reaching out to stranded concert-goers in Manchester on social media and offering them accommodations and assistance. Security has also been increased at all major transport hubs across the UK.
If the bombing is confirmed to be the work of a terrorist organisation, then this would be the worst terror attack in the UK since the death of 52 people in the 2005 London bombings.
As reports of the devastation continued to stream in, Ariana took to Twitter to convey her dismay at the attack earlier this morning.
broken.
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017
Her tweet was followed by a barrage of celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra and Cher, expressing condolences to the victims.
My thoughts and prayers are with @ArianaGrande and everyone who was hurt at the concert in Manchester.. what is happening to the world..
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) May 23, 2017
