Manchester bombing: Police say 22 dead, suicide bomber blamed (Updated)

At least 22 people died in a suspected suicide bombing at a pop concert by US star Ariana Grande in the British city of Manchester late Monday.

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Update

Manchester bombing: Police say 22 dead, suicide bomber blamed

AFP – At least 22 people died in a suspected suicide bombing at a pop concert in the British city of Manchester late Monday.

Greater Manchester Police's chief constable Ian Hopkins said a sole attacker had set off an "improvised explosive device" and died in the process.

Authorities are treating the attack as a "terrorist incident," but no one has so far claimed it.

Police said they are now investigating whether it was a lone wolf-style attack or whether there are accomplices.

Morning story

19 killed in blast at Manchester concert: British police

Manchester, United Kingdom, May 23, AFP – Nineteen people have been killed in a suspected explosion at the end of a pop concert by US star Ariana Grande in Manchester in northwest England that is being treated as a terrorist incident, police said.

This file photo taken on August 28, 2016 shows US singer Ariana Grande performing during the 2016 MTV Video Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York.. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMAD

Eyewitnesses described a "huge bomb-like bang" and scenes of panic as young fans fled the venue.

A fleet of ambulances was seen rushing to the venue and bomb disposal teams were dispatched soon after.

"So far 19 people have been confirmed dead, with around 50 others injured. This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise," police said in a statement.

The first unconfirmed reports of an explosion emerged shortly after 2145 GMT on Monday.

"We heard the last song go and then suddenly there was a massive flash and then a bang and smoke," Gary Walker from Leeds, who was with his wife waiting for their daughters to come out, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Walker said he was hit by shrapnel in his foot while his wife sustained a stomach wound.

Isabel Hodgins, who had been attending the concert, told Sky News: "Everybody was panicking, there was pushing up the stairs.

"The corridor was full, it smelled of burning, there was quite a lot of smoke as we were leaving.

"It's just shocking and we just feel very shaken up. We're just lucky to have gotten away safely," she said.

Medics deploy at the scene of a reported explosion during a concert in Manchester, England on May 23, 2017. Ambulances were seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue and police added in a statement that people should avoid the area / AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS

Majid Khan, 22, who was attending the concert with his sister, said: "A huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena".

Calvin Welsford, 18, from Bristol told the BBC: "It almost sounded like a gunshot".

"I looked around and people were just spilling down, heading out of the building".

"I was actually having an asthma attack. It was sheer panic," he said.

Manchester residents opened up their homes to people left stranded by the incident, sending messages with the hashtag #RoomforManchester.

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