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Version 21 Version 22
Manchester Arena: police arrest 23-year-old man in connection with bombing that killed 22 – latest Manchester Arena: police arrest 23-year-old man in connection with bombing that killed 22 – latest
(35 minutes later)
12.56pm BST
12:56
This is from the BBC’s home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds on Islamic State claiming responsibility for the Manchester attack.
IS has claimed responsibility for the Manchester Arena blast. The claim was made via IS channels on the messaging app Telegram.
And this is from Gordon Corera, the BBC’s security correspondent.
IS message saying 'Soldier of the Caliphate' carried out Manchester attack. Can mean inspired rather than directed attack
12.48pm BST
12:48
According to Reuters, Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. This cannot be independently verified.
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12.46pm BST
12:46
Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, has said the American authorities are “working closely” with the British authorities to help them investigate the attack.
Statement by Secretary Tillerson on last night's attack in Manchester, UK. #manchesterattack pic.twitter.com/MfgenZKpme
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12.43pm BST
12:43
Severin Carrell
STV has postponed its live televised Scottish leaders’ debate scheduled for Wednesday evening after the Manchester Arena bombing, with the parties preparing to suspend campaigning for much of this week.
The debate, due to be broadcast from the Tramway arts centre in Glasgow, was to include Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish National party leader, Ruth Davidson, of the Scottish Tories, Kezia Dugdale, of Scottish Labour, and Willie Rennie, of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
STV said: “In light of events in Manchester and the suspension of general election campaigning, STV has taken the decision to postpone its Scottish party leaders’ debate planned for Wednesday evening.”
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12.40pm BST
12:40
Nazia Parveen
Officers in riot gear with guns have raided a flat on the Whalley Range/Chorlton border.
More than a dozen officers in unmarked cars and police vans raided a flat at Royston Court in Carlton Road at about 12.20pm.
The public were told to keep out of the way as the officers made their way to the flat on the tree-lined street. A large police presence remains in the area.
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12.35pm BST
12:35
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has confirmed police are in contact with the families of two Scottish teenagers who are missing after attending the concert in Manchester targeted in a terror attack.
Speaking at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh after a meeting of the Scottish government’s resilience committee, Sturgeon described the attack as a “dreadful atrocity”.
She also said that four people had attended hospitals in Scotland after the bomb attack. Two of them have already been discharged, she said.
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12.27pm BST
12:27
The director general of MI5, Andrew Parker, has condemned the terrorist attack in Manchester as “disgusting” and said the security service remains “relentlessly focused, in numerous current operations, on doing all we can to combat the scourge of terrorism and keep the country safe”.
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12.23pm BST
12:23
The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has condemned the attack. Speaking during his meeting with President Trump, Abbas said:
Allow me at the beginning to condemn the horrible terrorist attack that occurred in the British city of Manchester … I do offer my warm condolences to the prime minister of Britain, families of victims and the British people.
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12.16pm BST12.16pm BST
12:1612:16
Queen issues statementQueen issues statement
The Queen has spoken of her shock. In a statement, she also thanked the emergency services and expressed admiration for the response of people in Manchester.The Queen has spoken of her shock. In a statement, she also thanked the emergency services and expressed admiration for the response of people in Manchester.
The whole nation has been shocked by the death and injury in Manchester last night of so many people, adults and children, who had just been enjoying a concert.The whole nation has been shocked by the death and injury in Manchester last night of so many people, adults and children, who had just been enjoying a concert.
I know I speak for everyone in expressing my deepest sympathy to all who have been affected by this dreadful event and especially to the families and friends of those who have died or were injured.I know I speak for everyone in expressing my deepest sympathy to all who have been affected by this dreadful event and especially to the families and friends of those who have died or were injured.
I want to thank all the members of the emergency services who have responded with such professionalism and care.I want to thank all the members of the emergency services who have responded with such professionalism and care.
And I would like to express my admiration for the way the people of Manchester have responded, with humanity and compassion, to this act of barbarity.And I would like to express my admiration for the way the people of Manchester have responded, with humanity and compassion, to this act of barbarity.
A message from Her Majesty The Queen following the attack in Manchester yesterday. https://t.co/CuaaPmRM1DA message from Her Majesty The Queen following the attack in Manchester yesterday. https://t.co/CuaaPmRM1D
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at 12.20pm BSTat 12.20pm BST
12.10pm BST12.10pm BST
12:1012:10
First victim namedFirst victim named
The first victim of the attack has been named as Georgina Callander, 18.The first victim of the attack has been named as Georgina Callander, 18.
Runshaw College, where Callander was a student, released a statement, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that it appears that one of the people who lost their lives in Monday’s Manchester attack was one of our students here at Runshaw College […]Runshaw College, where Callander was a student, released a statement, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that it appears that one of the people who lost their lives in Monday’s Manchester attack was one of our students here at Runshaw College […]
“Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to all of Georgina’s friends, family and all of those affected by this loss.”“Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to all of Georgina’s friends, family and all of those affected by this loss.”
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at 12.12pm BSTat 12.12pm BST
12.08pm BST12.08pm BST
12:0812:08
Peter WalkerPeter Walker
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, told Sky News that his children knew friends who had been at the concert.Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, told Sky News that his children knew friends who had been at the concert.
While terrorist attacks had happened before, this was “of a different order”, Farron said:While terrorist attacks had happened before, this was “of a different order”, Farron said:
This a terrorist attack deliberately targeted at children having the time of their lives. It was cowardly, it was deliberate, it is beyond wicked.This a terrorist attack deliberately targeted at children having the time of their lives. It was cowardly, it was deliberate, it is beyond wicked.
And that is why it is right that we should determine justice should be done, and we continue to stand up to those who wish to harm our society, to take away life, and to take away our liberty.And that is why it is right that we should determine justice should be done, and we continue to stand up to those who wish to harm our society, to take away life, and to take away our liberty.
It was important that people remain “utterly resolute and defiant”, and not change their way of life in response to the attack, he added.It was important that people remain “utterly resolute and defiant”, and not change their way of life in response to the attack, he added.
Farron said the Lib Dems, Labour and Conservatives had been in touch over the suspension of the election campaign.Farron said the Lib Dems, Labour and Conservatives had been in touch over the suspension of the election campaign.
We are absolutely of the view that our national campaigns have been suspended today. What happens in the future, that’s something to be discussed.We are absolutely of the view that our national campaigns have been suspended today. What happens in the future, that’s something to be discussed.
12.06pm BST12.06pm BST
12:0612:06
Carmen FishwickCarmen Fishwick
The mother of a 19-year-old Manchester Metropolitan University student who was at the Ariana Grande concert describes hearing screaming and “total panic” during a phone conversation she had with him minutes after the attack. Her son, who wishes to remain anonymous, used his mobile phone to contact his mother soon after leaving the concert hall. He was seated high up in the stadium and says it was extremely difficult to exit due to people pushing from behind, crushing in the stairways and the crowd surging towards the exit doors.“My son and his friend rang seconds after they got out. People thought there were gunmen behind them, and they didn’t know which way to go. They were just kids trying to work it out. They didn’t have any help,” his mother said. She said her son asked for advice about where he should go because there was no support at the venue. Police were running the other way, he told her. She said she felt helpless as there was no information online.“I was terrified for him. They wanted to run to the Arndale Centre – which was the site of a bomb attack when I was a teenager – of course I knew this might be a bad idea, but they didn’t. They genuinely didn’t know. They are young, but there were much younger children there,” she said.She said although her son had water taken off him, his bags were not searched and security did not check what he was carrying. The mother of a 19-year-old Manchester Metropolitan University student who was at the Ariana Grande concert describes hearing screaming and “total panic” during a phone conversation she had with him minutes after the attack.
Her son, who wishes to remain anonymous, used his mobile phone to contact his mother soon after leaving the concert hall. He was seated high up in the stadium and says it was extremely difficult to exit due to people pushing from behind, crushing in the stairways and the crowd surging towards the exit doors.
“My son and his friend rang seconds after they got out. People thought there were gunmen behind them, and they didn’t know which way to go. They were just kids trying to work it out. They didn’t have any help,” his mother said.
She said her son asked for advice about where he should go because there was no support at the venue. Police were running the other way, he told her. She said she felt helpless as there was no information online.
“I was terrified for him. They wanted to run to the Arndale Centre – which was the site of a bomb attack when I was a teenager – of course I knew this might be a bad idea, but they didn’t. They genuinely didn’t know. They are young, but there were much younger children there,” she said.
She said although her son had water taken off him, his bags were not searched and security did not check what he was carrying.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.10pm BST at 12.22pm BST
12.03pm BST12.03pm BST
12:0312:03
Arndale centre reopenedArndale centre reopened
Frances PerraudinFrances Perraudin
The Arndale centre’s is being reopened after being evacuated as police confirm that a man was arrested in the shopping centre in a move currently thought to be unrelated to last night’s attack. Emma Dixon, who works in Yours Clothing in Manchester’s Andale centre, says the first she heard of the evacuation was the centre’s security staff walking quickly in one direction. Her and her colleagues tried to stay calm, but then they saw a crowd of customers screaming and running for the exit. “At that point we just ran. We were veryfrightened,” she says.Dixon parked three miles away at a colleague’s house before walking into work. “We get here, red faced, and then we have to leave again!”“I wasn’t frightened coming in at all,” she says. “I was apprehensive about what the atmosphere was going to be like, and I knew we wouldn’t be busy, but it was like ‘we’re coming in’.” The Arndale centre is being reopened after being evacuated as police confirm that a man was arrested in the shopping centre in a move currently thought to be unrelated to last night’s attack.
Emma Dixon, who works in Yours Clothing in the Arndale centre, said the first she heard of the evacuation was the centre’s security staff walking quickly in one direction. She and her colleagues tried to stay calm, but then saw customers screaming and running for the exit. “At that point we just ran. We were very frightened,” shesaid.
Dixon parked three miles away at a colleague’s house before walking in to work. “We get here, red-faced, and then we have to leave again.
“I wasn’t frightened coming in at all. I was apprehensive about what the atmosphere was going to be like and I knew we wouldn’t be busy, but it was like, ‘We’re coming in’.”
The Arndale is being reopened now. Dixon parked 3 miles away and walked in to get to work. "We get in, red faced, then have to leave again!"The Arndale is being reopened now. Dixon parked 3 miles away and walked in to get to work. "We get in, red faced, then have to leave again!"
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12.02pm BST12.02pm BST
12:0212:02
The BBC is postponing the Andrew Neil election interviews planned for this week while election campaigning has been suspended.The BBC is postponing the Andrew Neil election interviews planned for this week while election campaigning has been suspended.
Following tragic events in Manchester, The Andrew Neil Interviews won't go ahead as planned whilst #GE2017 campaigning is suspended.Following tragic events in Manchester, The Andrew Neil Interviews won't go ahead as planned whilst #GE2017 campaigning is suspended.
11.57am BST11.57am BST
11:5711:57
11.57am BST11.57am BST
11:5711:57
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has been giving his reaction to the Manchester attack, and said he had talked to Theresa May. He also spoke of the need to support the young people who were traumatised by the attack. When asked for his message to the families affected, Corbyn said:The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has been giving his reaction to the Manchester attack, and said he had talked to Theresa May. He also spoke of the need to support the young people who were traumatised by the attack. When asked for his message to the families affected, Corbyn said:
I’m terribly sorry and terribly sad for you.I’m terribly sorry and terribly sad for you.
There can be nothing worse than losing a child in a situation like this.There can be nothing worse than losing a child in a situation like this.
We have to put our arms around them and support them, not just today but in all the very difficult days to come because a trauma like this doesn’t go in a day or two – it’s there with them for the rest of their lives.We have to put our arms around them and support them, not just today but in all the very difficult days to come because a trauma like this doesn’t go in a day or two – it’s there with them for the rest of their lives.
We have to give them all the support we possibly can, and also make sure we live in a safe environment in the future and we live in safety together, but we do not allow communities to be divided by this kind of appalling, atrocious act of violence.We have to give them all the support we possibly can, and also make sure we live in a safe environment in the future and we live in safety together, but we do not allow communities to be divided by this kind of appalling, atrocious act of violence.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.02pm BSTat 12.02pm BST
11.57am BST11.57am BST
11:5711:57
Manchester police have confirmed the arrest of a 23-year-old in connection with last night’s attack.Manchester police have confirmed the arrest of a 23-year-old in connection with last night’s attack.
With regards to last night’s incident at the Manchester arena, we can confirm we have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester.With regards to last night’s incident at the Manchester arena, we can confirm we have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester.
Another man was arrested in the Arndale Centre, but this is not currently believed to be connected to last night’s attack.Another man was arrested in the Arndale Centre, but this is not currently believed to be connected to last night’s attack.
A man has been arrested at the Arndale Centre – This is not currently believed to connected to last night’s attacks.A man has been arrested at the Arndale Centre – This is not currently believed to connected to last night’s attacks.
11.53am BST11.53am BST
11:5311:53
First arrestFirst arrest
A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the Manchester bomb attack, Greater Manchester police said.A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the Manchester bomb attack, Greater Manchester police said.
@MENnewsdesk Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester in connection with #ManchesterAttack@MENnewsdesk Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester in connection with #ManchesterAttack
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.54am BSTat 11.54am BST