Dozens killed or injured in explosion at Manchester Arena

At least 19 people have been killed and around 50 others injured in an explosion at the Manchester Arena in northern England. Panic and chaos followed as thousands of mainly teenage concert goers tried to escape following the blast. “It was a huge explosion – you could feel it in your chest. It was chaotic. Everybody was running and screaming and trying to get out” – said one witness. It appears to have been centred on the Arena’s box office and happened following a performance by the singer Ariana Grande. The 23 year-old American is said to be safe. Nail bomb? Witnesses said they noticed the floor was covered in nails. Paramedics confirmed they had treated some of the wounded for “shrapnel-like injuries”. Greater Manchester Police quickly secured the area including the nearby Victoria railway station where all trains were cancelled. Some hours later a precautionary controlled explosion in the Cathedral Garden area of the city was carried out. Police have now confirmed it was not a suspicious item. Chief Constable Ian Hopkins of Greater Manchester Police: “We are currently treating this as a terrorist incident until we have further information. We are working closely with national counter terrorism policing network and UK intelligence partners. This is clearly a very concerning time for everyone. We are doing all that we can working with local and national agencies to support those affected.” Dozens of people were taken to hospitals across the city as desperate parents and friends took to social media to try and find missing teenagers. Prime Minister Theresa May has suspended her general election campaigning and is to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee later today. British PM Theresa May issues statement following Manchester explosion https://t.co/psuO6vvBqg pic.twitter.com/XL522NiqZi— Bloomberg (@business) May 23, 2017 Britain is currently on its second highest alert level of “ severe” meaning an attack by militants is considered likely. Manchester Residents Open Their Doors to Survivors Left Stranded By Concert Explosion https://t.co/8rG25wkDtf— People Magazine (@people) May 23, 2017 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. I’m heartbroken over what happened in Manchester tonight. Sending love to everyone involved. H— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) May 23, 2017