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The Latest on the Manchester Bombing at Ariana Grande Concert The Latest on the Manchester Bombing at Ariana Grande Concert
(35 minutes later)
■ The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bombing Monday night outside the main hall of the Manchester Arena that killed 22 people and wounded 59 others. View photographs from the aftermath of the attack.■ The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bombing Monday night outside the main hall of the Manchester Arena that killed 22 people and wounded 59 others. View photographs from the aftermath of the attack.
■ Children and teenagers who were attending a concert by the American pop star Ariana Grande were among the dead, the police said. An 18-year-old student and an 8-year-old girl were confirmed killed in the bombing. Ms. Grande was not hurt. ■ Children and teenagers who were attending a concert by the American pop star Ariana Grande were among the dead, the police said, including an 8-year-old girl. Ms. Grande was not hurt.
■ The police say a man detonated an “improvised explosive device” and died at the scene. They were investigating whether he had any help, and on Tuesday, the police in Manchester announced that they had arrested a 23-year-old man.■ The police say a man detonated an “improvised explosive device” and died at the scene. They were investigating whether he had any help, and on Tuesday, the police in Manchester announced that they had arrested a 23-year-old man.
■ Prime Minister Theresa May described the episode as “an appalling terrorist attack,” and she said law enforcement officers believed they knew the identity of the attacker, but were not ready to confirm his name. The police have not released the identity of the bomber, nor have they commented on his motive. It is also not clear whether he received help and whether he intended to kill himself.
The police have not released the identity of the bomber, nor have they commented on the motive of the assailant. It is also not clear whether he received help and whether he intended to kill himself.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the bomber in its statement as one of the “soldiers of the caliphate,” but the extent of the militant group’s connection is unclear.The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the bomber in its statement as one of the “soldiers of the caliphate,” but the extent of the militant group’s connection is unclear.
We are also trying to find out:We are also trying to find out:
■ How many of the 22 victims were children.■ How many of the 22 victims were children.
■ What gaps in security at the arena might have abetted the attack, and what could have been done to prevent it.■ What gaps in security at the arena might have abetted the attack, and what could have been done to prevent it.
■ What effect the attack might have on the June 8 general election. Britain’s leading political parties agreed to suspend campaigning out of respect for the victims of the attack.■ What effect the attack might have on the June 8 general election. Britain’s leading political parties agreed to suspend campaigning out of respect for the victims of the attack.
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The police had said they believed the bomber acted alone, but investigators said they were following leads and poring over surveillance footage to determine if the assailant had help or was part of a wider network. Shortly before noon on Tuesday, the police announced that they had arrested a 23-year-old man in the Chorlton-cum-Hardy neighborhood, southwest of the city center. The police have said they are following leads and poring over surveillance footage to determine if the assailant had help or was part of a wider network. Shortly before noon on Tuesday, the police announced that they had arrested a 23-year-old man in the Chorlton-cum-Hardy neighborhood, southwest of the city center.
Hours later, the police set off a controlled explosion and raided a house in Elsmore Road, in the Fallowfield district, about 3.5 miles south of the arena.Hours later, the police set off a controlled explosion and raided a house in Elsmore Road, in the Fallowfield district, about 3.5 miles south of the arena.
Read more about the investigation.Read more about the investigation.
— Katrin Bennhold, Steven Erlanger and Ceylan Yeginsu— Katrin Bennhold, Steven Erlanger and Ceylan Yeginsu
Saffie Rose Roussos, an 8-year-old from Lancashire in northwest England, was attending the Ariane Grande concert with her mother and older sister, the Lancashire County Council said on Tuesday. Saffie was killed in the attack. News reports said her mother and her sister, who is in her 20s, were being treated at a hospital for their injuries.Saffie Rose Roussos, an 8-year-old from Lancashire in northwest England, was attending the Ariane Grande concert with her mother and older sister, the Lancashire County Council said on Tuesday. Saffie was killed in the attack. News reports said her mother and her sister, who is in her 20s, were being treated at a hospital for their injuries.
Earlier, Georgina Bethany Callander, an 18-year-old health and social care student, was the first victim of the Manchester attack to be identified on Tuesday. News reports said she had died with her mother at her bedside.Earlier, Georgina Bethany Callander, an 18-year-old health and social care student, was the first victim of the Manchester attack to be identified on Tuesday. News reports said she had died with her mother at her bedside.
Read more about the victims who have been identified here.Read more about the victims who have been identified here.
— Dan Bilefsky— Dan Bilefsky
Elizabeth Hardy, 13, and her sister Amanda Hardy, 15, were singing their own rendition of their favorite Ariana Grande song, “Break Free,” when an explosion ripped through the foyer of the Manchester Arena, sending both of them to the ground.
“I didn’t know what to do, I just ran and left my sister,” Amanda recalled hours later, as she sat huddled on a chair at the nearby Park Inn Hotel, still clutching a pink balloon she had caught during the concert. “It was my birthday, and the last thing I told Liz before the bang was that I had the best night of my life. Then I lost her.”
Their mother, Charlotte, followed the girls from a distance as they tried to get out of the arena. “There was a huge bang, followed by a stampede and then a burning smell,” she said.
Ms. Hardy found Amanda on the floor. “Her tights were ripped and blood was coming out of her legs,” she said. “I thought she was dying.”
Amanda survived and was in the hospital being treated for shrapnel wounds. Ms. Hardy brought Elizabeth to a local hotel to rest.
“When the police brought her to me she was terrified, shaking and didn’t understand what was going on,” Ms. Hardy said, adding that the explosion created mass confusion. “I thought the bang was special effects and Ari would come back onto the stage.”
Video from inside the arena showed a surreal scene of people scrambling for the exits amid pink balloons. The balloons were part of choreographed staging for Ms. Grande’s tour, after a segment with projections and lasers.
— Ceylan Yeginsu
Others in Manchester were still appealing for help locating loved ones who had attended the concert.Others in Manchester were still appealing for help locating loved ones who had attended the concert.
The soccer club Manchester City has opened part of its Etihad Stadium to be used as an emergency facility for families awaiting news of relatives still unaccounted for. Representatives of the Greater Manchester Police and the city council were on hand Tuesday, helping to direct inquiries.The soccer club Manchester City has opened part of its Etihad Stadium to be used as an emergency facility for families awaiting news of relatives still unaccounted for. Representatives of the Greater Manchester Police and the city council were on hand Tuesday, helping to direct inquiries.
Volunteers looking to help were also directed to the stadium, about a mile east of the Manchester Arena. A number of local shops have sent food and supplies to the families waiting there.Volunteers looking to help were also directed to the stadium, about a mile east of the Manchester Arena. A number of local shops have sent food and supplies to the families waiting there.
— Dan Bilefsky, Philip Pan and Rory Smith— Dan Bilefsky, Philip Pan and Rory Smith
Speaking outside her Downing Street office on Tuesday, the British prime minister appealed for anyone with information about the bombing to come forward, and she vowed that Britain’s way of life would “always prevail.”Speaking outside her Downing Street office on Tuesday, the British prime minister appealed for anyone with information about the bombing to come forward, and she vowed that Britain’s way of life would “always prevail.”
“Let us remember those who died, and let us celebrate those who helped, safe in the knowledge that the terrorists will never win,” she said in comments broadcast on television.
Mrs. May said the attack Monday evening “stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice — deliberately targeting innocent, defenseless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives.”Mrs. May said the attack Monday evening “stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice — deliberately targeting innocent, defenseless children and young people who should have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives.”
Queen Elizabeth II offered her “deepest sympathy to all who have been affected by this dreadful event,” and Prince Charles also issued a statement of condolence. Queen Elizabeth II offered her “deepest sympathy to all who have been affected by this dreadful event,” and Prince Charles and his eldest son, Prince William, also issued their own statements of condolence.
— Sewell Chan and Prashant S. Rao The British government did not make any immediate comment on the claim of responsibility by the Islamic State.
President Trump condemned the bombing as a “very horrible morning of death,” and pledged “absolute solidarity” with Britain. President Trump, speaking in Bethlehem in the West Bank, where he was on his first foreign trip as president, condemned the bombing as a “very horrible morning of death,” and pledged “absolute solidarity” with Britain.
Speaking in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, while on his first foreign trip as president, Mr. Trump said the bombing underscored the message that he had delivered over the past several days about the need to confront the threat of terrorism.
“The terrorists and extremists, and those who give them aid and comfort, must be driven out from our society forever,” Mr. Trump said after a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. “This wicked ideology must be obliterated, and I mean completely obliterated.”“The terrorists and extremists, and those who give them aid and comfort, must be driven out from our society forever,” Mr. Trump said after a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. “This wicked ideology must be obliterated, and I mean completely obliterated.”
— Michael D. Shear — Sewell Chan and Prashant S. Rao
Laura Bruce, 18, was with her 25-year-old sister, Amy, in one of the arena’s upper tiers when they heard the explosion. “Everyone below us just turned and ran,” she said. “Because we were higher up, we could not get out for five minutes. When we came out, a man walked past us just covered in blood.”
Sophie Tedd, 25, had traveled from Darlington, England, to attend the concert with her friend Jessica Holmes. At the end of the concert, they heard a loud bang and initially wondered whether “a speaker had blown.”
Video from inside the arena showed a surreal scene of people scrambling for the exits amid pink balloons. The balloons were part of choreographed staging for Ms. Grande’s tour, after a segment with projections and lasers.
— Rory Smith and Ben Sisario
Hours after the deadly attack in Manchester, false reports about the assailant and victims started to circulate across social media, often aided by Britain’s traditional news media.Hours after the deadly attack in Manchester, false reports about the assailant and victims started to circulate across social media, often aided by Britain’s traditional news media.
Two of the country’s newspapers reported incorrectly that a gunman had been spotted near a hospital on the outskirts of the city in northern England. The local authorities quickly debunked that report through a tweet.Two of the country’s newspapers reported incorrectly that a gunman had been spotted near a hospital on the outskirts of the city in northern England. The local authorities quickly debunked that report through a tweet.
As in previous attacks across Europe, including those recently in France and Germany, false reports of people looking for victims of the attack also spread rapidly, racking up thousands of likes and retweets even though the information was incorrect.As in previous attacks across Europe, including those recently in France and Germany, false reports of people looking for victims of the attack also spread rapidly, racking up thousands of likes and retweets even though the information was incorrect.
Other posts included photographs of Ms. Grande, portraying her — falsely — in the aftermath of the blast.Other posts included photographs of Ms. Grande, portraying her — falsely — in the aftermath of the blast.
— Mark Scott— Mark Scott
The attack at the arena was the worst terrorist attack in Britain since the 2005 bombings of London’s buses and subway, which killed 52 people.The attack at the arena was the worst terrorist attack in Britain since the 2005 bombings of London’s buses and subway, which killed 52 people.
British authorities, who say they have foiled numerous terrorist plots, have for months maintained the nation’s threat level, set by the domestic intelligence service MI5, at “severe,” the second-highest level. That means the authorities considered an attack “highly likely.” And counterterrorism officials have been warning that as the Islamic State comes under more military pressure in Iraq and Syria, it will try to strike abroad.British authorities, who say they have foiled numerous terrorist plots, have for months maintained the nation’s threat level, set by the domestic intelligence service MI5, at “severe,” the second-highest level. That means the authorities considered an attack “highly likely.” And counterterrorism officials have been warning that as the Islamic State comes under more military pressure in Iraq and Syria, it will try to strike abroad.
— Steven Erlanger— Steven Erlanger
Last week, the Islamic State released a 44-minute video featuring fighters of different nationalities, enjoining their supporters back home to carry out acts of violence. Among them was a man identified as a British national, according to a translation of the video provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute, which tracks jihadist propaganda.Last week, the Islamic State released a 44-minute video featuring fighters of different nationalities, enjoining their supporters back home to carry out acts of violence. Among them was a man identified as a British national, according to a translation of the video provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute, which tracks jihadist propaganda.
Besides the threat last week, the Islamic State has repeatedly targeted Britain in its propaganda, though with little visible effect until this year.Besides the threat last week, the Islamic State has repeatedly targeted Britain in its propaganda, though with little visible effect until this year.
— Rukmini Callimachi— Rukmini Callimachi
Ms. Grande said after the attack that she was “broken.” She wrote on Twitter how sorry she was for the fans who were killed and injured in the bombing.Ms. Grande said after the attack that she was “broken.” She wrote on Twitter how sorry she was for the fans who were killed and injured in the bombing.
The 23-year-old singer and actress began her career on the children’s television network Nickelodeon. She played the character Cat Valentine — whom she once described as “simple” — on the hit shows “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat.”The 23-year-old singer and actress began her career on the children’s television network Nickelodeon. She played the character Cat Valentine — whom she once described as “simple” — on the hit shows “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat.”
Ms. Grande has written in a Facebook post that playing Cat Valentine had helped her transition “from teenager to adult.”Ms. Grande has written in a Facebook post that playing Cat Valentine had helped her transition “from teenager to adult.”
The concert that was attacked on Monday was part of a tour to support Ms. Grande’s 2016 album, “Dangerous Woman.” Reviewing the tour’s February stop at Madison Square Garden, the New York Times music critic Jon Pareles called Ms. Grande’s performance “a show of confidence, prowess and aplomb.”The concert that was attacked on Monday was part of a tour to support Ms. Grande’s 2016 album, “Dangerous Woman.” Reviewing the tour’s February stop at Madison Square Garden, the New York Times music critic Jon Pareles called Ms. Grande’s performance “a show of confidence, prowess and aplomb.”
— Mike Ives— Mike Ives
The Manchester Arena is the largest indoor venue in Britain, with a capacity of 21,000, or 18,000 for concerts. It was constructed as part of Manchester’s bid to host the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2000. The venue is connected to the Manchester Victoria Station, which remained closed on Tuesday.The Manchester Arena is the largest indoor venue in Britain, with a capacity of 21,000, or 18,000 for concerts. It was constructed as part of Manchester’s bid to host the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2000. The venue is connected to the Manchester Victoria Station, which remained closed on Tuesday.
The Pennsylvania-based company SMG manages the arena, and Wes Westley, the president and chief executive of the company, described the precautions at the venue.The Pennsylvania-based company SMG manages the arena, and Wes Westley, the president and chief executive of the company, described the precautions at the venue.
“It is obviously as tight security as anywhere in the states,” he said in an interview. “Backpacks are not allowed. Drinks are taken away from people. You have to go through very strict security to enter the arena.”“It is obviously as tight security as anywhere in the states,” he said in an interview. “Backpacks are not allowed. Drinks are taken away from people. You have to go through very strict security to enter the arena.”
He explained that attendees arrive through a large public foyer, which is where the explosion occurred. The area is often where parents wait for their children after concerts.He explained that attendees arrive through a large public foyer, which is where the explosion occurred. The area is often where parents wait for their children after concerts.
— Ben Sisario and Gerry Mullany— Ben Sisario and Gerry Mullany