The Islamic State group claimed responsibility
Tuesday for a suicide bombing at a packed.
Manchester pop concert, killing at least 22 people including an eight-year-old girl in Britain's deadliest terror attack for more than a decade.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the police knew the identity of the bomber, who died in the blast late Monday, saying he intended to cause "maximum carnage". She said he is believed to have acted alone, but police arrested a 23-year-old man on Tuesday morning in connection with the
attack, which occurred just over two weeks before Britain holds a general election.
"One of the caliphate's soldiers placed bombs among the crowds," the IS group said in a
statement published on its social media channels, and threatened more attacks.
Screaming fans, many of them teenagers, fled the venue in panic after the explosion at the
end of the concert by US star Ariana Grande in the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena, in
northwestern England.
"A single terrorist detonated his improvised explosive device near one of the exits of the
venue, deliberately choosing the time and place to cause maximum carnage and to kill
and injure indiscriminately," May said after an emergency ministerial meeting.
Eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos and a teenager, Georgina Callander, were among the first of the 22 victims to be confirmed.
Another 59 people were wounded, many with life-threatening conditions.
"We know that among those killed and injured were many children and young people," the
prime minister added.
Police said the blast occurred in the foyer of the indoor arena, a covered area which links
the auditorium to Victoria Station, a train and tram hub.
Witnesses reported seeing bodies on the floor after the blast around 10:30pm (2130 GMT) on Monday, and some fans were trampled as
panicked crowds tried to flee the venue.
"There were fathers carrying their little girls in tears. People were pushing down the stairs.
It was just... chaos," Sebastian Diaz, a 19- year-old from Newcastle, told AFP.
Families were separated, with dozens of young people taken to nearby hotels overnight, and some parents were still desperately searching for their children on Tuesday.
"I'm just hearing nothing -- her phone's dead," Charlotte Campbell, whose 15-year-
old daughter Olivia was at the concert, told BBC radio.
The attack was the deadliest in Britain since July 7, 2005 when four suicide bombers inspired by Al-Qaeda attacked London's
transport system during rush hour, killing 52 people and wounding 700 more.
It revived memories of the November 2015
attack at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris in
which armed men wearing explosive belts
stormed in and killed 90 people. That attack
was also claimed by IS.
Grande, who is popular with teens and pre-
teens, expressed her anguish following the
Manchester attack.
"Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am
so, so sorry. I don't have words," the 23-
year-old wrote on Twitter.
May said it was "a callous terrorist attack",
conducted with "appalling, sickening
cowardice" and Queen Elizabeth condemned
it as an "act of barbarity".
Britain's national terror threat level has been
"severe", meaning an attack is highly likely,
since August 2014, and May said this would
remain unchanged, but under review.
In an unusual response, the head of the MI5
domestic Intelligence agency, Andrew Parker,
said his teams had been working through the
night.
"We remain relentlessly focused, in numerous
current operations, on doing all we can to
combat the scourge of terrorism and keep the
country safe," he said.
Campaigning for the June 8 general election,
which May called last month to strengthen
her hand in forthcoming Brexit negotiations
with the European Union, has been
suspended.
US President Donald Trump led condolences
from political leaders across the globe, as
well as stars from the world of music and
football such as former Manchester United
player David Beckham.
"So many young, beautiful, innocent people
living and enjoying their lives murdered by
evil losers," Trump said during a visit to
Bethlehem.
US singer Taylor Swift, a friend of Grande,
wrote: "My thoughts, prayers and tears for all
those affected by the Manchester tragedy
tonight."
"A lot of these people at the concert were
small children and teenagers like my
daughter," witness Stephanie Hill told AFP.
"These were Christmas presents for the
majority of people. What should have been a
happy occasion has ended like this, it is just
tragic."
In a city famed globally for its musical
traditions and football teams, showbusiness
stars and teams joined in to express their
shock at the carnage.
"We are deeply shocked by last night's
terrible events at the Manchester Arena," said
Manchester United , whose manager Jose
Mourinho said the victims were in the club's
"minds and hearts."
A support centre for people caught up in the
attack was set up at Etihad Stadium, the
home of Manchester City, which is next door
to the venue.
City captain Vincent Kompany offered his
condolences on Twitter, saying: "It's a sad
day for the great city of Manchester. #Unity".
May headed to Manchester to meet police
and emergency services.
She hailed the city's response to the attack,
which saw residents opened their doors to
stranded concert-goers after trains were
cancelled.
Britain's third biggest city was hit in 1996 by
a massive car bomb planted at a shopping
centre by the Irish Republican Army (IRA)
which wounded more than 200 people.
Tuesday for a suicide bombing at a packed.
Manchester pop concert, killing at least 22 people including an eight-year-old girl in Britain's deadliest terror attack for more than a decade.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the police knew the identity of the bomber, who died in the blast late Monday, saying he intended to cause "maximum carnage". She said he is believed to have acted alone, but police arrested a 23-year-old man on Tuesday morning in connection with the
attack, which occurred just over two weeks before Britain holds a general election.
"One of the caliphate's soldiers placed bombs among the crowds," the IS group said in a
statement published on its social media channels, and threatened more attacks.
Screaming fans, many of them teenagers, fled the venue in panic after the explosion at the
end of the concert by US star Ariana Grande in the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena, in
northwestern England.
"A single terrorist detonated his improvised explosive device near one of the exits of the
venue, deliberately choosing the time and place to cause maximum carnage and to kill
and injure indiscriminately," May said after an emergency ministerial meeting.
Eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos and a teenager, Georgina Callander, were among the first of the 22 victims to be confirmed.
Another 59 people were wounded, many with life-threatening conditions.
"We know that among those killed and injured were many children and young people," the
prime minister added.
Police said the blast occurred in the foyer of the indoor arena, a covered area which links
the auditorium to Victoria Station, a train and tram hub.
Witnesses reported seeing bodies on the floor after the blast around 10:30pm (2130 GMT) on Monday, and some fans were trampled as
panicked crowds tried to flee the venue.
"There were fathers carrying their little girls in tears. People were pushing down the stairs.
It was just... chaos," Sebastian Diaz, a 19- year-old from Newcastle, told AFP.
Families were separated, with dozens of young people taken to nearby hotels overnight, and some parents were still desperately searching for their children on Tuesday.
"I'm just hearing nothing -- her phone's dead," Charlotte Campbell, whose 15-year-
old daughter Olivia was at the concert, told BBC radio.
The attack was the deadliest in Britain since July 7, 2005 when four suicide bombers inspired by Al-Qaeda attacked London's
transport system during rush hour, killing 52 people and wounding 700 more.
It revived memories of the November 2015
attack at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris in
which armed men wearing explosive belts
stormed in and killed 90 people. That attack
was also claimed by IS.
Grande, who is popular with teens and pre-
teens, expressed her anguish following the
Manchester attack.
"Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am
so, so sorry. I don't have words," the 23-
year-old wrote on Twitter.
May said it was "a callous terrorist attack",
conducted with "appalling, sickening
cowardice" and Queen Elizabeth condemned
it as an "act of barbarity".
Britain's national terror threat level has been
"severe", meaning an attack is highly likely,
since August 2014, and May said this would
remain unchanged, but under review.
In an unusual response, the head of the MI5
domestic Intelligence agency, Andrew Parker,
said his teams had been working through the
night.
"We remain relentlessly focused, in numerous
current operations, on doing all we can to
combat the scourge of terrorism and keep the
country safe," he said.
Campaigning for the June 8 general election,
which May called last month to strengthen
her hand in forthcoming Brexit negotiations
with the European Union, has been
suspended.
US President Donald Trump led condolences
from political leaders across the globe, as
well as stars from the world of music and
football such as former Manchester United
player David Beckham.
"So many young, beautiful, innocent people
living and enjoying their lives murdered by
evil losers," Trump said during a visit to
Bethlehem.
US singer Taylor Swift, a friend of Grande,
wrote: "My thoughts, prayers and tears for all
those affected by the Manchester tragedy
tonight."
"A lot of these people at the concert were
small children and teenagers like my
daughter," witness Stephanie Hill told AFP.
"These were Christmas presents for the
majority of people. What should have been a
happy occasion has ended like this, it is just
tragic."
In a city famed globally for its musical
traditions and football teams, showbusiness
stars and teams joined in to express their
shock at the carnage.
"We are deeply shocked by last night's
terrible events at the Manchester Arena," said
Manchester United , whose manager Jose
Mourinho said the victims were in the club's
"minds and hearts."
A support centre for people caught up in the
attack was set up at Etihad Stadium, the
home of Manchester City, which is next door
to the venue.
City captain Vincent Kompany offered his
condolences on Twitter, saying: "It's a sad
day for the great city of Manchester. #Unity".
May headed to Manchester to meet police
and emergency services.
She hailed the city's response to the attack,
which saw residents opened their doors to
stranded concert-goers after trains were
cancelled.
Britain's third biggest city was hit in 1996 by
a massive car bomb planted at a shopping
centre by the Irish Republican Army (IRA)
which wounded more than 200 people.
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