The international community has expressed its solidarity after a suicide bomber struck a concert in Manchester. At least 22 people, including children, were killed one of the UK's worst-ever terror attacks.
EU flags were lowered at half-mast to honor the victims of the attack. Image: Reuters/F. Lenoir
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World leaders on Tuesday joined the chorus of shock and horror at the suicide bombing in Manchester which killed at least 22 people, including children.
"I won't call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think that's a great name," Trump said. "So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday morning that such an "incomprehensable" attack would only "strengthen our determination to continue working together with our friends in the UK to combat those who plan and carry out such despicable acts."
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was a "brutal attack on young people everywhere.”
"This incident, this attack, is especially vile, especially criminal, especially horrific because it appears to have been deliberately directed at teenagers,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted in the hours after the attack to express "shock" on behalf of his country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to boost anti-terror cooperation with Britain after "this cynical, inhuman crime."
"We expect that those behind it will not escape the punishment they deserve," he said.
Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said: "If this is a terrorist attack, such abhorrent acts of terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, and Japan firmly condemns such an act of terrorism.”
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."
Image: Reuters/P. Nicholls
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France's recently elected president, Emmanuel Macron, tweeted: "My thoughts are with the British people, the victims and their families. Together we will fight against terrorists."
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the world must stand together against terrorism.
Chinese President Xi Jinping phoned Queen Elizabeth II to offer condolences, and the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, condemned the attack in a tweet.
