At least 22 people, including children, have died in an explosion outside a concert venue in Manchester, England, which police believe was a suicide bombing attack.
Another 59 people are being treated for injuries in eight hospitals after the blast just outside the Manchester Arena, where an Ariana Grande concert had just concluded at around 10:30 p.m. local time on Monday.
“We have been treating this as a terrorist incident and we believe, at this stage, the attack last night was conducted by one man. The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network,” Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said in a statement Tuesday.
The police chief said the attacker was carrying an “improvised explosive device” that he detonated at the scene, causing the deaths and injuries. The attacker died at the site, Hopkins confirmed.
An arrest has been made in connection with the bombing investigation, Greater Manchester Police said Tuesday on Twitter.
Manchester police are working with the U.K.’s National Counter Terrorist Policing Network and U.K. intelligence services in a “fast-moving” investigation into the incident, Hopkins said. More than 400 officers, some armed, have been involved in the operation.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack, saying it stands out for “its appalling, sickening cowardice, deliberately targeting innocent, defenseless children.”
“The police and security services believe they know the identity of the perpetrator, but at this stage of their investigations we cannot confirm his name,” May said.
“Significant resources have been deployed to the police investigation, and there continues to be visible patrols around Manchester, which include the deployment of armed officers,” she added.
Greater Manchester Police conducted a controlled explosion in Cathedral Garden Monday night, but reported the suspicious bundle they blew up was found to be abandoned clothing.
The leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, have said they will suspend national campaigning for the general election set for June 8. The Scottish National Party has also canceled its planned manifesto launch.
Concertgoers reported hearing one or two loud explosions about the time the performance by the American singer was ending. Videos posted online showed the chaos the ensued as patrons attempted to exit the arena.The Holiday Inn hotel closest to the concert venue was said to have taken in dozens of kids who had been separated from their parents during the explosion.
Second attack in two months
The Manchester blast marks the second time in two months the U.K. has suffered from suspected terror attacks. Four people died in March after a truck driver plowed into people on Westminster Bridge near the Houses of Parliament in London and then stabbed a police officer to death. The attacker was later shot dead by police. If confirmed as a terrorist incident, Monday’s explosion will be the most serious attack in the U.K. since the London bombings on July 7, 2005, when a series of coordinated suicide bombs on trains and busses left 52 people dead.
Manchester has also suffered from terror attacks in the past. The latest occurred in 1996, when the Provisional Irish Republican Army, known as the IRA, detonated a truck-bomb in the city center, injuring more than 200, though none died.
U.S. reaction
As reactions poured in from around the world, U.S. President Donald Trump said his country stands in “absolute solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom.”
“So many young, beautiful innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life,” he said. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued its own statement, saying that it had no credible information about any threats to U.S. music venues.
“The Department of Homeland Security is closely monitoring the situation at Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom. We are working with our foreign counterparts to obtain additional information about the cause of the reported explosion as well as the extent of injuries and fatalities,” it said.
“U.S. citizens in the area should heed direction from local authorities and maintain security awareness. We encourage any affected U.S. citizens who need assistance to contact the U.S. Embassy in London and follow Department of State guidance,” it added.
A spokesman for Grande’s record label said the pop star was not injured in the incident.
London security stepped up
Meanwhile in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed that the capital’s security measures are being reviewed and stepped up after the blast.
“I am in constant contact with the Metropolitan Police, who are reviewing security arrangements in London.
Londoners will see more police on our streets,” he said in a statement.
London Victoria coach station earlier Tuesday was evacuated as police investigated a suspicious package. The package was later confirmed to not be suspicious and the station reopened.
Sources: Agencies