Manchester Arena blast: 19 dead and about 50 hurt

Nineteen people have been killed and about 50 injured in a suspected terror attack at Manchester Arena, an indoor arena in Hunts Bank of England, reports BBC.

The blast happened at about 22:35 BST on Monday following a pop concert by the US singer Ariana Grande.
The cause is unknown but PM Theresa May said her thoughts were with those affected by "what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack".

British Transport Police said the explosion was in the arena`s foyer.

The prime minister has suspended her general election campaigning and will chair a meeting of the government`s emergency Cobra committee later, in response to the attack.

Mrs May said: "We are working to establish the full details" of what had happened in Manchester.

"All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected," Mrs May said.

BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said senior counter-terrorism officers were assembling in London and liaising with the Home Office.

Unconfirmed reports from two unnamed US officials suggested the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
The BBC`s Tim Ashburner, who is at the scene, spoke to some volunteer paramedics who treated the injured for "shrapnel-like injuries".

The leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, tweeted: "Terrible incident in Manchester. My thoughts are with all those affected and our brilliant emergency services."

Greater Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham said: "My heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones, my admiration to our brave emergency services. "A terrible night for our great city."

Shortly after the blast Manchester Victoria station, which is close to the concert venue, was closed and all trains cancelled.

Greater Manchester Police carried out a precautionary controlled explosion in the Cathedral Garden area of the city at about 01:32. The force confirmed it was not a suspicious item.

`Screaming and running`
A number of eyewitnesses have described the confusion in the aftermath.

Andy Holey, who had gone to the arena to pick up his wife and daughter who had been at the concert, said: "As I was waiting, an explosion went off and it threw me about 30ft from one set of doors to the other set of doors.

"When I got up I saw bodies lying on the ground. My first thought was to go into the arena to try to find my family.

"When I couldn`t find them, I went outside with the police and fire and looked through some of the bodies to try and find my wife and daughter.

"I managed to find them eventually and they`re OK.

"It was definitely an explosion and it was some force. It happened near the box office at the entrance to the Arena."
Emma Johnson said she and her husband were at the arena to pick up their daughters, aged 15 and 17.

"It was definitely a bomb. It was definitely in the foyer," she told BBC Radio Manchester.

"We were stood at the top of the stairs and the glass exploded - it was near to where they were selling the merchandise.

"The whole building shook. There was a blast and then a flash of fire afterwards. There were bodies everywhere."