Manchester terror attack LIVE: 23-year-old arrested, UK PM May says attacker showed 'cold calculation'
23 May 2017 5:15 AM GMT
At least 22 people were killed in an explosion at the end of a pop concert by US star Ariana Grande in Manchester in northwest England, police said.
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.
4:27pm: UK police arrest 23-year-old man in Manchester in relation to concert attack.
4:12pm: Police say they are investigating an incident at the Arndale shopping centre : Reuters
4:05pm: Manchester's Arndale shopping centre evacuated, reports a Reuters photographer. Witnesses said they heard a 'big bang' at the shopping centre.
3:46pm: While we experienced the worst of humanity in Manchester last night, we also saw the best: Theresa May
3:45pm: UK PM Theresa May says not known if Manchester attacker was acting alone or as part of group
2:05pm: US President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with the United Kingdom, condemns the "evil losers" behind the blast. "I extend my deepest condolences to those so terribly injured in this terrorist attack, and to the many killed and the families, so many families of the victims," Trump said. "So many young, beautiful innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life."
1:30pm: Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to boost anti-terror cooperation with Britain in a condolence message to Prime Minister Theresa May over the "inhuman" attack in Manchester, the Kremlin said.
1:15pm: London mayor Sadiq Khan said there will be more police on the streets after the Manchester attack.
1pm: The Indian high commission in London set up a response unit and activated more helplines to assist any Indian nationals caught up in the Manchester terror attack that claimed 22 lives.
12:45pm: German Chancellor Angela Merkel voices "sorrow and horror" over Manchester terror attack.
"This suspected terrorist attack will only strengthen our resolve to work with our British friends against those who plan and execute such inhuman acts. I assure the people in Britain: Germany stands by your side," Merkel said in a statement.
12:15pm: British police closed London's Victoria Coach Station and the surrounding streets, the BBC reported, after finding a suspect package.
"A suspect package is being checked out," a Metropolitan police spokesperson said.
Buckingham Palace Road and other streets in the area are closed: Reuters quotes BBC
11:50am: French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a telephone call with British Prime Minister Theresa May in the wake of the Manchester attack, Macron's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The most cowardly form of terrorism has struck once again, targeting - as in Paris more than a year ago - a concert venue," French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said in a statement in a reference to a similar attack at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris in November 2015.
"I call on my fellow citizens to observe the utmost vigilance, confronted as we are with a threat which is more present than ever before," Philippe said
11:35am: Police say the attacker died when he detonated his device, killing 22 others including children and injuring 59 people.
11:25am: Manchester police say they believe one man carried out attack on Ariana Grande concert; not sure if he acted alone.
"We believe, at this stage, the attack last night was conducted by one man," Manchester chief constable Ian Hopkins said.
"The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network."
"The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated causing this atrocity."
10:35am: After Conservative Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn will also suspend campaign for the June 8 general election in Britain.
May succeeded David Cameron as the Britain PM after he resigned following the EU referendum.
10am: Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and sadness at the ghastly terror attack in Manchester. Expressing solidarity and offering condolences to families of those who lost loved ones, she said that the world must come together as one to fight the scourge of terrorism cutting across boundaries and religion.
8:45am: Twitter accounts affiliated to Islamic State have used hashtags referring to the blast to post celebratory messages, with some users encouraging similar attacks elsewhere.
"It seems that bombs of the British airforce over children of Mosul and Raqqa has just came back to #Manchester," one user named Abdul Haqq said on Twitter, in reference to the Iraqi and Syrian cities held by the militants where a US-led coalition is conducting air strikes.
8:30am: Ariana Grande, the American singer who was performing at the Manchester venue shortly before the blast, reacts on Twitter:
8:10am: Devastating to learn of news in UK. My thoughts are with all those affected by the explosion in Manchester tonight, says Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly.
7:50am: Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party tweeted: "Terrible incident in Manchester. My thoughts are with all those affected and our brilliant emergency services."
The Canadian PM, Justin Trudeau, says his citizens were "shocked by the news of the horrific attack in Manchester tonight".
7:45am: Manchester launches emergency number: 0161 856 9400
7:40am: Manchester police say they are working with national police, intelligence agencies to investigate concert explosion.
7:35am: US Department of Homeland and Security closely monitoring situation in Manchester, England: Reuters
The department said in a statement it had "no information to indicate a specific credible threat involving music venues in the United States".
"However, the public may experience increased security in and around public places and events as officials take additional precautions," the statement said.
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