British Prime Minister Theresa May has condemned the attack on a concert in Manchester, calling it an act of "sickening cowardice." Political leaders in Britain have agreed to suspend campaigning for upcoming elections.
Image: Reuters/T. Melville
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British Prime Minister Theresa May said the attack that killed 22 people in Manchester on Monday evening was "among the worst terrorism we have experienced in the United Kingdom," adding that police believed they knew the identity of the suicide bomber.
The man behind the explosion that shook the Manchester Arena following an Ariana Grande concert, aimed to cause "maximum carnage" by detonating his bomb outside one of the exits, May said. She condemned the "cold calculation" shown by the targeting of children and young people.
"All acts of terrorism are cowardy attacks on the innocent people, but this attack stands out for its appalling sick cowardice," the prime minister said.
May paid tribute to the response by emergency services, as well as to members of the public who helped look after those caught up in the attack.
"While we experienced the worst of humanity in Manchester last night, we also saw the best," the prime minister said.
May said that a number of those being treated in hospital were suffering from "life-threatening injuries."
Britain's Queen Elizabeth expressed her deepest sympathy for those affected by the attack, which she described as an "act of barbarity."
"The whole nation has been shocked by the death and injury in Manchester last night of so many people, adults and children, who had just been enjoying a concert," said the queen in a statement.
Earlier, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reacted to the "terrible incident" on Twitter, saying his "thoughts were with all those affected." He later posted a longer statement.
Political leaders spoke on Tuesday and had agreed to suspend their election campaigns "until further notice” following the attacks. National elections are scheduled in Britain for June 8.
Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the blast in Manchester was "a barbaric attack, deliberately targeting some of the most vulnerable in our society - young people and children out at a pop concert."
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham made a statement on Tuesday morning, saying the citzens of Manchester had experienced the "darkest of nights" and were "waking up to the most difficult of dawns."
Burnham condemned the "evil act" that took place at the concert, but said "today it will be business as usual, as far as possible, in our great city."
The mayor also praised citizens who opened their doors to people fleeing the attack in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. #RoomsForManchester was used on Twitter to provide people with no way of getting home with a place to stay after the explosion.
rc/rt (AP, Reuters)
What we know: Manchester blast in pictures
An explosion hit an Ariana Grande concert attended by thousands of young fans in Manchester, killing at least 22 and injuring dozens more. Here's a rundown of what happened.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Byrne
Explosion hits concert arena
At around 10:30 p.m. local time, at the end of a concert by US pop singer Ariana Grande in Manchester Arena, an explosion shook what witnesses described as the foyer area of the venue where merchandise was being sold. The blast flung people to the ground and shattered glass in the foyer area.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca
Fleeing the venue
After the blast, people began streaming out of the arena. Grande has many younger fans, and there were many parents waiting to collect their children outside the venue. Police later said the blast killed 22 people, and over 50 people were injured. Some were treated on site while others were taken to local hospitals. First responders reported some of the victims had shrapnel wounds.
Ariana Grande, pictured in a file photo above, is a 23-year-old singer from the US. She is currently on her global "Dangerous Woman Tour," with her next scheduled concert for May 25 in London. Hours after the explosion in Manchester, Grande tweeted: "broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words."
Image: GettyImages/Samir Hussein
Helping victims
In the aftermath of the explosion, several messages appeared on social media seeking help in finding people who were unaccounted for after the blast. Hotels near the venue opened their doors for children who had not yet been reunited with their parents, and #RoomInManchester began trending on Twitter as residents offered a place to stay for anyone stranded after the blast.
Police are treating the explosion as a terrorist incident carried out by a lone suicide bomber. Police named the suspect as Salman A., but cautioned that coroners had not yet identified the body of the suicide bomber.
In the late morning after the attack, police said that they had made an arrest in connection with the incident. There was some panic at about the same time when a shopping center near to the concert venue was evacuated by police.
Image: picture alliance/empics/D. Lawson
'Islamic State' group claims attack
The so-called "Islamic State" claimed credit for the attack through its Amaq news agency. However, IS is known to make such claims even when it has not had direct involvement in planning and orchestrating specific terror attacks.
Image: Reuters/T. Melville
Vigil held
Thousands of people attended a vigil in central Manchester on Tuesday evening. Many held signs reading "I Love MCR," an abbreviation for Manchester. A Muslim group held a banner that read: "Love for all, Hatred for None."
