A bomb at a pop concert in Manchester has killed 22 people and injured a further 59 in a suspected terror incident.
It is thought that children are among the fatalities in the explosion which occurred at around 10.30pm last night.
Many parents were gathered in the area waiting to collect their children after the concert when the bomb detonated. Ariana Grande’s fans are predominantly young people, and many are teenagers or younger.
Around 21,000 people are reported to have been at the concert in the Manchester Arena when the blast occurred. There were scenes of chaos as thousands immediately ran from the building in fear for their lives.
The suspected attacker died at the scene. Reports say the man entered the foyer of the arena and detonated an improvised explosive device. Greater Manchester Police believe is was a lone attacker, but are investigating to determine if they operated as part of a wider network.
Police say the explosion is being “treated as a terrorist incident until we have further information”.
“We would ask people not to speculate on his (the attacker’s) details or to share names. There is a complex and wide-ranging investigation under way, ” said Chief constable Ian Hopkins of the Greater Manchester Police.
Victims were rushed to hospitals across Manchester as the death toll rose overnight.
Many people are today waking up to the news of the attack and horror video footage from eye witnesses. Flags are flying at half-mast at official buildings in the UK.
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