Jump to content

Manchester Bombing


bust
 Share

Recommended Posts

Nineteen people have died and about 50 people are injured following an explosion at Manchester Arena in northern England.

 

Fatalities following Manchester Arena bombing

A blast at the Ariana Grande concert leaves a number of people dead.

Witnesses heard two loud bangs at the arena about 10.35pm following the concert by US pop singer Ariana Grande.

The explosions went off in the foyer of the arena as thousands of fans left the concert.

1495499687692.jpg

Ariana Grande fans flee Manchester Arena following an explosion. Photo: Twitter

 

The cause of the explosion is not known, and police are treating it as a terrorist incident. A bomb disposal team is also on site.

"So far 19 people have been confirmed dead, with around 50 others injured," Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

Advertisement

 

"This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise."

Police confirmed a second suspect device has been found in the area, and police will be carrying out a controlled explosion at Cathedral Gardens, a short distance from the arena.

1495499687692.jpg

A woman is consoled outside Manchester Arena following the explosion. Photo: PA

All train services to Victoria Station, underneath the arena, have been cancelled and the station evacuated.

Much of the concert crowd, estimated to be 21,000, were young people and children - unaccompanied or with their parents.

1495499687692.png

Concertgoers attempting to get out of Manchester Arena following an explosion. Photo: Twitter

Outside the venue after the blast there were desperate scenes as parents attempted to find children who had attended the concert.

A representative for Grande told Variety she is "okay".

1495499687692.jpg

Police at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion. Photo: PA

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was not known if any Australians were involved.

"There have been reports of an explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester UK on the evening of 22 May (local time). The Australian High Commission in London is making urgent enquiries to determine whether any Australians have been affected by the incident."

1495499687692.jpg

Armed police gather at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester. Photo: AP

Concertgoers flee after explosion

Andy Holey, whose wife and daughter were at the concert, told BBC News that the explosion was near to a ticket office, and he was blown off his feet when it happened, and was unconscious.

 

He said he saw several bodies around him when he came to.

1495499687692.jpg

Pop singer Ariana Grande has just finished performing at the arena when an explosion was heard

A witness who said the explosion was so big "you could feel it in your chest".

"We were making our way out and when we were right by the door there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming," Catherine Macfarlane told Reuters.

"It was a huge explosion - you could feel it in your chest. It was chaotic. Everybody was running and screaming and just trying to get out of the area."

Karen Ford told the BBC the explosion went off after the lights went on at the end of the concert.

"All of a sudden huge sound... an explosion went off," she said.

"Everyone just stopped and turned round then somebody shouted 'it's a bomb' and everyone started running.

"People were pushing each other aside in panic, she said, and there were "a lot of children without parents with no-one to calm them down.

"There was screaming and crying and pushing. We were being crushed as we exited," she said.

Sasina Akhtar told the Manchester Evening News that she saw "young girls with blood on them".

"She [Grande] did her last song, we were in the lower tier and there was an explosion behind us at the back of the arena," she said.

"We saw young girls with blood on them, everyone was screaming and people were running. There was lots of smoke."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...