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Manchester Arena: police confirm 19 dead after explosion at Ariana Grande concert – latest updates Manchester Arena: 19 dead after explosion at Ariana Grande concert – latest updates
(35 minutes later)
2.59am BST
02:59
With campaigning for June’s general election understandably suspended, politicians have been responding to the events in Manchester.
Home secretary Amber Rudd said:
My thoughts are with all those affected by this barbaric act. The full details of exactly what happened are still emerging, but I am proud of the police and first responders who reacted to this tragic incident so swiftly.
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted:
Heartbreaking news from Manchester. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones or been injured in this barbaric attack.
Steve Rotheram, the Liverpool city region metro mayor, said his daughters had been at the venue:
Thank you to the Alpha taxi driver who percivered and eventually got through the traffic to pick up my 2 girls from the Manchester Arena.
All my thoughts go out to those parents waiting to hear of the safety of their children. It's a parents worse nightmare. So, so sad.
2.54am BST
02:54
Vikram Dodd
Police said they were dealing with a possible terror incident at the Manchester Arena, with witnesses claiming to have heard an explosion around 10.40pm.
Sources said the the initial theory was that a suicide bomber was behind the suspected explosion, which took place as revellers, many young, were leaving. It was feared the casualty toll may rise.
Counter-terrorism officials were assessing what caused the explosion. Officers from the police and the domestic security service MI5 were part of the investigation.
2.42am BST
02:42
The prime minister, Theresa May, will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday morning.
A statement from 10 Downing Street confirmed that police are currently treating the incident at Manchester Arena as an “appalling terrorist attack”.
2.40am BST
02:40
Some very poignant observations from reporters at the scene. Many of those at the concert were children and teenagers.
Two more ambulances have just pulled into children's A&E at Manchester Royal Infirmary, followed by a van carrying blood supplies
Parents are still arriving here to pick up children. Saw one woman hobbling away from the scene, supported by police.
2.31am BST
02:31
What we know so far
We are awaiting a fresh update from Greater Manchester police. In the meantime, here is what has been verified:
At least 19 people have been killed and around 5o injured after an explosion at Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by Ariana Grande.
The blast was reported to have taken place outside the arena, in the public foyer, shortly after 10.30pm.
Investigators say they are treating the incident as a terrorist attack “until police know otherwise”.
No identities of those killed or injured have been confirmed.
A large area around the arena has been cordoned off. Victoria station has been closed and train services cancelled.
A controlled explosion carried out by police in nearby Cathedral gardens turned out not to be suspicious.
Prime minister Theresa May said:
We are working to establish the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack.
All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected.
Party leaders Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron also expressed condolences. Campaigning for June’s general election has been suspended.
2.24am BST2.24am BST
02:2402:24
Helen PiddHelen Pidd
Our North of England editor is at a hospital where the wounded are being treated:Our North of England editor is at a hospital where the wounded are being treated:
I’ve just spoken to 17-year-old Ellie Ward with her mother outside Manchester Royal Infirmary. Her 64-year-old grandad was caught in the blast while waiting for her and her friend to come out of the concert. They said he was in the corridor by the merchandise stand in the tunnels underneath the tiered seating when he was hit by falling glass.I’ve just spoken to 17-year-old Ellie Ward with her mother outside Manchester Royal Infirmary. Her 64-year-old grandad was caught in the blast while waiting for her and her friend to come out of the concert. They said he was in the corridor by the merchandise stand in the tunnels underneath the tiered seating when he was hit by falling glass.
Ellie said after visiting him:Ellie said after visiting him:
He’s OK but he’s cut his cheek, they said he had severed an artery. A lot of glass shattered on him.He’s OK but he’s cut his cheek, they said he had severed an artery. A lot of glass shattered on him.
He said only realised what had happened when he felt the side of his head and it was bleeding. He was underneath the seats, by the merchandise, waiting for us to come out when we heard a massive shudder. We knew something was wrong.He said only realised what had happened when he felt the side of his head and it was bleeding. He was underneath the seats, by the merchandise, waiting for us to come out when we heard a massive shudder. We knew something was wrong.
2.18am BST2.18am BST
02:1802:18
Theresa May statementTheresa May statement
The prime minister has responded with a statement:The prime minister has responded with a statement:
We are working to establish the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack.We are working to establish the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack.
All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected.All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected.
2.14am BST2.14am BST
02:1402:14
Police at the scene say there are still a lot of people in the area – the capacity of Manchester Arena is 21,000.Police at the scene say there are still a lot of people in the area – the capacity of Manchester Arena is 21,000.
Buses have been pressed into service to ferry people out of the area; some local taxi companies are also offering free rides for those affected. Rail services have been cancelled.Buses have been pressed into service to ferry people out of the area; some local taxi companies are also offering free rides for those affected. Rail services have been cancelled.
Authorities are using Out Of Service buses to transport people safely out of the cordoned area #Manchester pic.twitter.com/LMG33Laip6Authorities are using Out Of Service buses to transport people safely out of the cordoned area #Manchester pic.twitter.com/LMG33Laip6
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.14am BSTat 2.14am BST
2.09am BST2.09am BST
02:0902:09
The security minister, Ben Wallace, has called for vigilance. He calls the incident an attack; police have said they are treating it as possible terrorism, but we are waiting for confirmation.The security minister, Ben Wallace, has called for vigilance. He calls the incident an attack; police have said they are treating it as possible terrorism, but we are waiting for confirmation.
Wallace said:Wallace said:
In the light of the attack in Manchester tonight, please be vigilant and if you see anything suspicious call the anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789123.In the light of the attack in Manchester tonight, please be vigilant and if you see anything suspicious call the anti-terrorist hotline: 0800 789123.
My thoughts are with all the victims of the incident tonight and our emergency services who are out there tending wounded and keeping us safe.My thoughts are with all the victims of the incident tonight and our emergency services who are out there tending wounded and keeping us safe.
2.01am BST2.01am BST
02:0102:01
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has tweeted his condolences:Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has tweeted his condolences:
My heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones, my admiration to our brave emergency services. A terrible night for our great cityMy heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones, my admiration to our brave emergency services. A terrible night for our great city
1.58am BST
01:58
Facebook has activated its safety check for people who are at or near the arena to let family and friends know they are safe.
1.55am BST
01:55
Frances Perraudin
Elena Semino, from Lancaster, was with her husband waiting for her daughter by the arena’s ticket office when the explosion went off. She has a wound on her neck and her leg is bleeding. She hasn’t been seen by a doctor yet as her priority was finding her daughter – which she now has.
“My husband and I were standing against the wall, luckily, and all of a sudden there was this thing. I can’t even describe it. There was this heat on my neck and when I looked up there were bodies everywhere.”
Her husband stayed behind to help an injured woman and has a minor injury. She ran to find her daughter in the auditorium.
Semino’s 17-year-old daughter Natalie and her friends said the performance had just come to an end when the explosion went off. “It went off and then there was a moment’s silence and then there were screams,” says Megan Ryder, 19. They say security guards initially tried to calm them down, saying it was a popped balloon or a technical difficulty.
1.47am BST
01:47
Here’s a video in which it’s possible to hear the controlled explosion carried out by Greater Manchester police on a suspicious device in Cathedral gardens, just minutes from the arena. Police have since confirmed that the item was abandoned clothing and now not thought to be suspicious.
You can hear the bang from the controlle explosion. We were told to stand against the wall but away from windows pic.twitter.com/3OUeCiiStT
1.42am BST
01:42
Martin Belam
#RoomForManchester appears to have emerged on social media as the hashtag people are rallying around. It is an offer of spaces to stay the night for those who were at the concert who can’t easily get home.
Transport away from the area will be difficult, because Manchester Arena is right next to Manchester Victoria station, which, due to ongoing emergency service activity, has been closed.
1.40am BST
01:40
Frances Perraudin
More eyewitness reports from our north of England reporter. The Guardian is not publishing the names of children involved:
One 16-year-old boy says he and his two friends had come from Lincoln for this evening’s show. They were sat next to the stage when they heard explosions as the performance came to an end. “A lot of people are saying that there were two explosions, but we all heard three,” he says.“It sounded like a gun shot. At first we thought it as a balloon, but then we felt the vibrations and stuff so we realised it wasn’t a balloon. Our parents heard the explosion from [their] hotel.”A 15-year-old girl tells the Guardian: “There were people falling over the chairs trying to get away and when we were running out we saw blood up the walls.”
1.34am BST
01:34
Here is Tuesday’s Guardian front page, reporting the news that 19 people have been killed:
The Guardian front page, Tuesday 23.05.17 – Murder in Manchester: at least 19 die in arena attack pic.twitter.com/SCqddBZdvb
1.32am BST
01:32
Greater Manchester police are warning people not to be alarmed as officers carry out a controlled explosion:
There will be a controlled explosion in Cathedral gardens shortly if you hearing anything don't be concerned.
1.24am BST
01:24
A statement from Manchester Arena says the incident took place outside the venue – earlier reports had suggested it happened in the foyer. It’s very common for details to be conflicting in the immediate aftermath of an incident like this; we will confirm as soon as we can.
The statement reads:
We can confirm there was an incident as people were leaving the Ariana Grande show last night.
The incident took place outside the venue in a public space.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims.
1.18am BST
01:18
Full police statement
Greater Manchester police have confirmed that 19 people have died and around 50 are injured:
Just before 10.35pm on Monday 22 May 2017, police were called to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena.
So far 19 people have been confirmed dead, with around 50 others injured.
This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise.
1.16am BST
01:16
Manchester suspected terror incident: what we know so far
Kevin Rawlinson
Here’s a summary of what we know so far after the incident in Manchester this evening:
Police have confirmed that at least 19 people have been killed in a suspected terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.
Officers said a further 50 were injured.
One explosion was reported to have hit the foyer of the building at about 10:30pm, British Transport police said.
Manchester Arena said the incident took place “outside the venue in a public space”.
Multiple witnesses said they heard an explosion, with one telling the Guardian the blast shook the building.