22 People Killed at Ariana Grande Concert
A total of 22 people have been confirmed dead after a bomb exploded at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, following a concert by American popstar, Ariana Grande.
According to Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, the attack was carried out by a man who seems to have acted alone.
The police also confirmed that the man had an ‘improvised explosive device’ with him, which he detonated in the foyer of the arena just as the concert drew to a close and people started making their way out of the arena.
Officials are treating the incident as a terrorist attack, though there has been no confirmation that the suicide bomber was affiliated with any specific terrorist organisation.
The death toll was first reported as 19, but has since gone up to 22. Many of these fatalities were children. Sources say that more than 50 people were injured and are currently being treated in hospital.
According to the Greater Manchester Police, the first emergency call to the authorities was placed at 10:33 pm, just after Grande concluded her encore. Grande had just walked off stage at the time of the explosion.
Footage posted to various social media sites show hundreds of people, mostly children and their parents, running towards the exit of the arena.
Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, described the incident as an ‘evil attack’ and said that his thoughts are with those affected by the attack.
“This was an evil act. Our first thoughts are with families of those killed and injured and we will do whatever we can to support them…We are grieving today but we are strong. Today it will be business as usual as far as possible in our great city … It will be the spirit of Manchester that will prevail and hold us together [sic],” he said.
British Prime Minister, Theresa May, said that the government is working closely with the police to fast-track the investigation in order to gain more details about the attack.
The star just released the following statement on social media: “broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words [sic].”
