Several people have been killed following an explosion at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in the UK this late Monday evening in what appears to be a possible terrorist attack.
Greater Manchester UK Police have said there have been a “number of confirmed fatalities” which has now reached 20 fatalities.
People attending a pop concert by Ariana Grande fled the stadium after hearing the noises, which Twitter users have described as sounding like gunshots.
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Emergency services have rushed to the scene.
BREAKING: ‘Number of fatalities’ confirmed after explosion at Ariana Grande concert at #ManchesterArena https://t.co/ZylIFx11Iv pic.twitter.com/f3wLabQV8C
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) May 22, 2017
One Twitter user wrote: “Honestly worst night of my existence. Just kept running from Manchester Arena for my life.”
Another added: “Just got out of Manchester arena after seeing Ariana perform. There was a loud bang when the lights came on & everyone ran out screaming.”
Greater Manchester Police tweeted: “Police responded to reports of a serious incident at Manchester Arena. Please stay away from the area.”
BREAKING: Manchester Arena blast – Several dead after explosion at Ariana Grande concert https://t.co/M2Wp394B4z pic.twitter.com/SC0jAGwUEg
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) May 22, 2017
Speaking to MEN, eyewitness Sasina Akhtar said she saw young girls screaming and wih “blood on them” after the loud bangs were heard.
She said: “She did her last song, we were in the lower tier and there was an explosion behind us at the back of the arena.
“We saw young girls with blood on them, everyone was screaming and people were running. There was lots of smoke.” Concert goers and people near the area also took to Twitter to report that “loud bangs” and an “explosion” was heard in the aftermath.
BREAKING: Ariana Grande’s spokesman confirms star is safe after fatal Manchester explosion https://t.co/HqKqZytpkl pic.twitter.com/EcpHfCJNe4
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) May 22, 2017
One person tweeted: “The explosion happened 30 seconds after Ariana got off stage in Manchester Arena, so terrifying.”
Another Twitter user posted: “Just been at Manchester Arena and heard a massive bang, saw smoke and everyone just started running and screaming.”
And one person wrote: “Just heard a huge bang from Manchester arena?! Seen loads of people screaming and running out from my balcony?!”
UPDATE at 8:05 pm EST: North West Counter Terrorism Unit are treating it as a “possible terror incident”
https://twitter.com/ryan_telfer/status/866787745859072001
UPDATE: 8:08 pm EST: Victims have “shrapnel type injuries”. Lots of reports it was a nail bomb.
UPDATE: 8:12 pm EST: Explosion heard by passenger in car.
https://twitter.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/866786952523153408
UPDATE: 9:38 pm EST: Manchester Arena blast LIVE – US officials claim a suicide bomber was behind the attack, which left 19 dead http://bit.ly/2rba4MO
UPDATE: 10:21 pm EST: “It’s got the works of jihadist terrorism—you have an American performer in the U.K. and notably, extremists frequently target children because that hurts and weakens people, adults,” former FBI special agent and former FBI national spokesperson John Iannarelli told Fox News. “The location of the bombs are a tell-tale sign—the bombs were outside the secured areas and planted in the lobby areas.”
UPDATE: 8:28 am EST (Tuesday): ISIS claims responsibility for Ariana Grande concert attack in Manchester, Fox News reported.
This breaking news is now unfolding. More to follow here…
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