Ariana Grande 'broken' following terror attack at her Manchester Arena concert

US pop star Ariana Grande has said she is "broken" following the deadly terror attack on her concert at Manchester Arena, adding: "From the bottom of my heart, I  am so so sorry."

The tweet came around five hours following an explosion that killed at least 22 people, including children, and injured more than 50 others. Police believe a lone suicide bomber was behind the atrocity.

Earlier, a representative for Grande said in the immediate aftermath she was "Okay", Variety reported.

Miss Grande, a 23-year-old born in Florida, had already performed at concerts in Birmingham and Dublin as part of her European tour, and was due to make two appearances at London's O2 venue on Thursday and Friday.

Grande’s music label, Universal Media Group said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of tonight's devastating event in Manchester. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy."

Witnesses reported hearing two loud bangs coming from near the arena's bars at about 10.35 p.m. 

"A huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena," concertgoer Majid Khan, 22, told the Press Association. "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."

Explosion rocks Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, in pictures

Oliver Jones, 17, said: "The bang echoed around the foyer of the arena and people started to run."

Another concert-goer, Catherine Macfarlane, told Reuters: "We were making our way out and, when we were right by the door, there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming."

"It was a huge explosion - you could feel it in your chest. It was chaotic. Everybody was running and screaming and just trying to get out."

Manchester Arena, the largest indoor arena in Europe, opened in 1995 and has a capacity for 21,000 people, according to its website. It is a popular concert and sporting venue.

Video from inside the arena showed concertgoers screaming as they made their way out amid a sea of pink balloons.

Prime Minister Theresa May suspended election campaigning and said the Government is working to establish "the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack."

She said her thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected. The government is expected to call an emergency Cabinet meeting.

The incident is the most deadly terrorist incident in Britain since the London Underground bombings of July 7 2005.

Police advised the public to avoid the area around the Manchester Arena, and the train station near the arena, Victoria Station, was evacuated and all trains canceled.

Britain is on its second-highest alert level of "severe" meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.

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