At least 19 people die in explosion at Manchester Arena | UK news | The Guardian
At least 19 people die in explosion at Manchester Arena
Greater Manchester police have warned people to stay away from the area while they deal with the emergency at pop concert
At least 19 people were killed and more than 50 injured after reports of an explosion in the foyer area of a crowded Manchester concert hall, which left hundreds of people fleeing in terror.
Police said they were dealing with a possible terror incident which happened at the Manchester Arena, with witnesses claiming to have heard an explosion around 10.40pm. It was feared last night that the death toll may be significant.
Counter-terrorism officials were assessing what caused the explosion. Investigators from the police and the domestic security service MI5 were part of the investigation.
Greater Manchester police said there were a “number of confirmed fatalities and others injured” with scores of emergency service vehicles rushing to the scene.
A concert by the American pop singer Ariana Grande was being staged at the time. Footage from inside the Manchester Arena, which has a 21,000 capacity, shows a crowd containing many young revellers.
The incident comes at a time when Britain has been on a severe terrorist alert, meaning an attack is highly likely.
In the immediate aftermath police told people to keep away from the area.
Witnesses said the concert had finished, the house lights came up and then a loud bang was heard. Majid Khan, 22, said: “A huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena.
“It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit.”
Oliver Jones, 17, who attended with his 19-year-old sister, said: “The bang echoed around the foyer of the arena and people started to run.”
Hannah Dane, who was at the concert, told the Guardian there was “quite a loud explosion heard from inside the Manchester arena and it shook, then everyone screamed and tried to get out”. People outside the concert were visibly upset, as a cacophony of sirens were heard as police and ambulance vehicles arrived at the scene.
Erin McDougle, 20, from Newcastle said: “There was a loud bang at the end of the concert. The lights were already on so we knew it wasn’t part of the show. At first we thought it was a bomb. There was a lot of smoke. People started running out. When we got outside the arena there were dozens of police vans and quite a few ambulances.”
A group of young men from Sheffield said they had seen at least five people covered in blood and others being carried out by bouncers. “Ariana Grande had just gone behind the curtain and the lights came up when there was this massive bang and a big cloud of smoke. I saw five people with blood all down them,” said one.
Sophie Tedd, 25, from Darlington, said the noise and smoke seemed to come from the tiered seating stage right. “We were sitting on that side then suddenly there was this big bang in the block next to us,” she said. “Everyone started screaming and we nearly got trampled on. There was a burning smell.”
Another person at the concert, a woman with her husband and three young children, said there was a loud bang as the concert ended. She said: “I just freaked. Everyone started screaming. We did not see any explosion but it smelt bad, like burning.”
The ambulance service covering Manchester, which is dealing with a significant toll of wounded people, asked people only to contact them in a life threatening situation because of the “large number of resources” at the incident.
Manchester Victoria station was closed and trains halted. British Transport police said: “Officers are at Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening. Emergency services are at the scene and we are working to establish more information regarding the explosion and will provide further updates as soon as possible.”
The incident in Manchester came after weeks of heightened activity and disrupted plots by police and MI5. In March, four people and the attacker died after an attack on Westminster, central London, which targeted the Houses of Parliament.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted his sympathy for the victims: “Terrible incident in Manchester. My thoughts are with all those affected and our brilliant emergency services.”
The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said: “This is a shocking and horrific attack targeting children and young people who were simply enjoying a concert. “My deepest sympathies are with the victims, and with families who have lost loved ones, as well as those desperately waiting for news. I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of the emergency services. This is an attack on innocent people and the nation is united both in its grief and its determination to stand up to this deplorable attack.”
Labour’s Lucy Powell, who is hoping to retain the Manchester Central seat, said she had spoken to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham about the incident. “This is a major incident targeted at our city,” she said.
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Religion of piss targeting little girls now?
At least 19 people die in explosion at Manchester Arena
Greater Manchester police have warned people to stay away from the area while they deal with the emergency at pop concert
At least 19 people were killed and more than 50 injured after reports of an explosion in the foyer area of a crowded Manchester concert hall, which left hundreds of people fleeing in terror.
Police said they were dealing with a possible terror incident which happened at the Manchester Arena, with witnesses claiming to have heard an explosion around 10.40pm. It was feared last night that the death toll may be significant.
Counter-terrorism officials were assessing what caused the explosion. Investigators from the police and the domestic security service MI5 were part of the investigation.
Greater Manchester police said there were a “number of confirmed fatalities and others injured” with scores of emergency service vehicles rushing to the scene.
A concert by the American pop singer Ariana Grande was being staged at the time. Footage from inside the Manchester Arena, which has a 21,000 capacity, shows a crowd containing many young revellers.
The incident comes at a time when Britain has been on a severe terrorist alert, meaning an attack is highly likely.
In the immediate aftermath police told people to keep away from the area.
Witnesses said the concert had finished, the house lights came up and then a loud bang was heard. Majid Khan, 22, said: “A huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena.
“It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit.”
Oliver Jones, 17, who attended with his 19-year-old sister, said: “The bang echoed around the foyer of the arena and people started to run.”
Hannah Dane, who was at the concert, told the Guardian there was “quite a loud explosion heard from inside the Manchester arena and it shook, then everyone screamed and tried to get out”. People outside the concert were visibly upset, as a cacophony of sirens were heard as police and ambulance vehicles arrived at the scene.
Erin McDougle, 20, from Newcastle said: “There was a loud bang at the end of the concert. The lights were already on so we knew it wasn’t part of the show. At first we thought it was a bomb. There was a lot of smoke. People started running out. When we got outside the arena there were dozens of police vans and quite a few ambulances.”
A group of young men from Sheffield said they had seen at least five people covered in blood and others being carried out by bouncers. “Ariana Grande had just gone behind the curtain and the lights came up when there was this massive bang and a big cloud of smoke. I saw five people with blood all down them,” said one.
Sophie Tedd, 25, from Darlington, said the noise and smoke seemed to come from the tiered seating stage right. “We were sitting on that side then suddenly there was this big bang in the block next to us,” she said. “Everyone started screaming and we nearly got trampled on. There was a burning smell.”
Another person at the concert, a woman with her husband and three young children, said there was a loud bang as the concert ended. She said: “I just freaked. Everyone started screaming. We did not see any explosion but it smelt bad, like burning.”
The ambulance service covering Manchester, which is dealing with a significant toll of wounded people, asked people only to contact them in a life threatening situation because of the “large number of resources” at the incident.
Manchester Victoria station was closed and trains halted. British Transport police said: “Officers are at Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening. Emergency services are at the scene and we are working to establish more information regarding the explosion and will provide further updates as soon as possible.”
The incident in Manchester came after weeks of heightened activity and disrupted plots by police and MI5. In March, four people and the attacker died after an attack on Westminster, central London, which targeted the Houses of Parliament.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted his sympathy for the victims: “Terrible incident in Manchester. My thoughts are with all those affected and our brilliant emergency services.”
The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said: “This is a shocking and horrific attack targeting children and young people who were simply enjoying a concert. “My deepest sympathies are with the victims, and with families who have lost loved ones, as well as those desperately waiting for news. I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of the emergency services. This is an attack on innocent people and the nation is united both in its grief and its determination to stand up to this deplorable attack.”
Labour’s Lucy Powell, who is hoping to retain the Manchester Central seat, said she had spoken to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham about the incident. “This is a major incident targeted at our city,” she said.
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Religion of piss targeting little girls now?
