Manchester blast: Police arrest suspect, as death toll hits 22

Twenty-two people have been killed and 59 injured in a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.

A lone attacker set off a homemade bomb in the foyer at 22:33 BST on Monday in what Theresa May called an “appalling, sickening” terrorist act.
Armed police have arrested a 23-year-old man in Chorlton, south Manchester, in connection with the attack.

The first victim has been named as 18-year-old student Georgina Callander.

She was studying health and social care at Runshaw College in Leyland, Lancashire.

In a statement in Downing Street, the prime minister said it was “now beyond doubt that the people of Manchester and of this country have fallen victim to a callous terrorist attack” that targeted “defenceless young people”.

She said the security services believe they know the attacker’s identity but are not yet able to confirm it.

Mrs May has chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee and is expected to travel to Manchester later.

It is the worst terrorist attack in the UK since the 7 July bombings in 2005 in which 52 people were killed.

The Queen has expressed her “deepest sympathy” with all those affected, adding that “the whole nation has been shocked by the death and injury”.

Sixty ambulances went to Manchester Arena after the attack and those wounded are being treated at eight hospitals around the city.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said it was “the most horrific incident” the city had ever faced, and the “fast-moving investigation” was now working to establish whether the attacker “was acting alone or as part of a network”.

The Arndale shopping centre in Manchester was briefly evacuated on Tuesday, but is now reopening.

Eyewitnesses at the Arena described seeing metal nuts and bolts among the debris, and spoke about the fear and confusion that gripped the concertgoers, reports the BBC.

Andy Holey, who had gone to the arena to pick up his wife and daughter, said: “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.”

Meanwhile, Islamic State has claimed responsibility for Monday’s deadly attack at the Manchester Arena and said it was carried out with an explosive device planted at the concert, according to a statement the group posted on Telegram.

“One of the soldiers of the Caliphate was able to place an explosive device within a gathering of the Crusaders in the city of Manchester,” the statement said.