22 Dead In Suicide Attack At UK Concert; Islamic State Claims Blast

Update 8:35 AM ET, Tuesday, May 23:

At least 22 people, children among them, died in a suicide attack at an Ariana Grande concert at Britain’s Manchester Arena late Monday night.

The Islamic State group on Tuesday said one of its members “planted bombs in the middle of crowds,” the Associated Press reported.

According to police, the bomber died when he detonated an improvised explosive device near one of the arena’s exits at 10:33 p.m. local time (5:33 p.m. ET) on Monday. Another 59 people were injured, several from the pandemonium that ensued as concert goers rushed to flee the scene.

Police arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester on Tuesday morning in connection with the bombing. Prime Minister Theresa May also said the authorities believe they know the identity of the man who carried out the bombing.

May said “many” children were among the dead and injured.

“We struggle to comprehend the warped and twisted mind that sees a room packed with young children not as a scene to cherish but as an opportunity for carnage,” she said.

The first confirmed fatality was Georgina Callender, 18. She was an Ariana Grande “superfan” from Lancashire who in 2015 met her idol and posed for pictures with her. An 8-year-old girl was also known dead but her name has not been released.

President Trump says the attack preyed on “innocent children,” adding “This wicked ideology must be obliterated. And I mean completely obliterated.”

Update 5:55 PM PT:

Friends and families of concert-goers are desperately asking the public for help locating missing children that may have been at the concert. Ariana Grande, the concert’s headliner, usually attracts younger crowds. A high proportion of teenagers and children may be among the dead.

Update 5:45 PM PT:

Officers carrying out a precautionary controlled explosion in Cathedral Garden confirm that it was abandoned clothing, not a suspicious item

— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017

Update 5:35 PM PT:

Police say a second explosive device has been found. Journalists and bystanders are being told to evacuate the scene immediately. The bomb squad appears to be getting ready for a controlled explosion.

There will be a controlled explosion in Cathedral gardens shortly if you hearing anything don’t be concerned.

— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017

Update 5:30 PM PT:

There were two explosions at Manchester Arena, according to CBS News. Witnesses say that concert-goers were hit by shrapnel. U.K. officials say that the explosive devices contained nails.

Update 5:20 PM PT:

British police are now saying that 19 people have been killed and another 55 others have been injured, some critically. Initial reports estimated the number of casualties to be higher.

Update 5:15 PM PT:

U.S. officials suspect that a backpack bomb may have been used in the incident, according to NBC News. Additionally, U.S. officials claim that some injuries may have been caused by the stampede of panicked concert-goers rushing out of Manchester Arena.

@PeteWilliamsNBC US officials: Some deaths and injuries may have been caused by stampede from Manchester Arena after explosion – @PeteWilliamsNBC

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) May 23, 2017

Update 5:10 PM PT:

U.S. officials have confirmed that counter-terrorism units in the U.K. believe that the explosion was carried out by a suicide bomber, according to NBC News. If true, then all signs are beginning to point to Islamist jihadism. Suicide bombings at big social gatherings and religious shrines have been carried out by ISIS militants in Egypt, Iraq, and other volatile regions of the Middle East. Manchester may seem like a different world, but individuals inspired by the Islamic State have previously targeted sites throughout Europe, including Berlin, Paris, and London.

Update 4:50 PM PT:

The BBC is reporting that law enforcement officials are treating the incident as a possible terror related incident.

The North West Counter Terrorism Unit is treating the incident at #ManchesterArena as a possible terrorist incident.

— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) May 22, 2017

Video that reportedly includes audio of the explosion has also surfaced:

You can hear the Manchester explosion in this video. Sounds far away and yet audibly substantial. pic.twitter.com/82P1uMtfyd

— neontaster (@neontaster) May 22, 2017

Reports are emerging that this was an attack utilizing nail bombs:

NHS sources are saying the explosion at Manchester Arena was a nail bomb attack. Still unconfirmed.

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) May 22, 2017

New details also suggest this was not a pyrotechnic accident:

Manchester explosion happened outside the concert hall in foyer, just past the entrance. Unlikely a pyrotechnic accident.

— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) May 22, 2017

A number of the issues were caused by stampede as well:

A large number of the causalities were caused by a stampede of people leaving the arena, according to @petewilliamsnbc #ManchesterAttack

— Gary Grumbach (@GaryGrumbach) May 23, 2017

Original:

Late Monday, an explosion reportedly went off at a concert venue in Manchester, United Kingdom at which pop star Ariana Grande was performing. Video footage taken at the Manchester Arena shows hundreds of people screaming and running for their lives. Police have confirmed that at least 20 have been killed and hundreds of others have been injured.

DEVELOPING: Video appears to show moments after explosion at Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. More: https://t.co/AlrauoBfq1 pic.twitter.com/kgYb2MWU20

— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 22, 2017

WATCH: People rushing out of arena #Manchester
Reports of ‘explosion’ at Manchester Arena in UK pic.twitter.com/vElz2V7otv

— Press TV (@PressTV) May 22, 2017

The fatality rate is consistent with a large-scale terror operation, however the perpetrators and motive of the attack are unknown at this time.

NBC News: Law enforcement officials say at least 20 dead and hundreds have been injured following reports of an explosion in Manchester, UK.

— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) May 22, 2017

This is much, much worse than recent attacks. This is starting to look like another Bataclan massacre. https://t.co/1XQ7rcrZSB

— Joshua Yasmeh (@JoshYaz) May 22, 2017

Here is a witness describing events:

Witness at Manchester Arena describes scenes of “chaos” as people rushed to leave after “huge bang” https://t.co/Iz9PCxvlJr pic.twitter.com/i2YMBRldJK

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 22, 2017

Greater Manchester Police are telling people to stay away from the concert hall as bomb disposal units arrive to the site of the blast.

Police statement on incident at Manchester Arena pic.twitter.com/gaKASukx9a

— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 22, 2017

As The Daily Beast’s national editor points out, the explosion occurred in the foyer of the concert hall, rendering the possibility that some sort of mechanical failure triggered the explosion unlikely. Early indications suggest that the explosion was deliberate.

Manchester explosion happened outside the concert hall in foyer, just past the entrance. Unlikely a pyrotechnic accident.

— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) May 22, 2017

This story will be updated further as more information becomes available.