Manchester Arena blast : 22 dead and several dozens injured

[Major]

At Least 19 Killed in Possible Suicide Blast at Manchester Arena Concert Featuring Ariana Grande

At least 19 people were killed and about 50 others were injured in a suspected suicide bombing Monday night after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in England, authorities said.

Greater Manchester Police said the incident was being treated as terrorism. A senior White House official told NBC News that President Donald Trump, who is on a visit to Jerusalem, had been briefed.

Police said the explosion took place outside the arena, which is near the Manchester Victoria transit station, as the concert ended at about 10:35 p.m. local time (5:35 p.m. ET), catching people as they exited.

Law enforcement sources in both Britain and the United States had previously told NBC News that at least 20 people were killed and that possibly "hundreds" of others were injured, but they stressed at the time that the information was preliminary and subject to change.

U.S. officials said initial reports from the scene indicated that a number of the casualties might have been caused by a stampede of concert-goers.

A representative of Ariana Grande said the singer, who has millions of young fans around the world, was not hurt. Likewise, Bianca Landrieu, the Boston hip hop star known as Bia, who also performed, tweeted: "Guys we are okay!!!"

All lines to Manchester Victoria station were closed, National Rail said in a statement. Northern Railway said the station had been evacuated.

Ivo Delgado, who attended the event, told NBC News that the concert had just ended when "I just heard a loud bang."

"People started screaming and going to the other side of the arena," said Delgado, who said he saw at least one person with blood on his face.

Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, tweeted that his two daughters had been in attendance and were safe.

"But I fear for others," he said.

Manchester Arena, which opened in 1995, is one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe. More than 1 million people fill its 21,000 seats every year.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/kim-jong-un-after-missile-test-entire-world-looks-so-n762846

 

[Major]

This is quite worrying as many youngsters were probably attending this

 

[90MPH]

I initially thought it was a loudspeaker explosion.

But now reports look certain it may have been a bomb explosion.

Police have said there are a "number of fatalities".

 

[QazzarFan]

Hope all the PPers in that area are safe.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Lots of reports on twitter suggesting this was some kind of accidental explosion (a speaker has been mentioned) and then the resulting stampede has caused so many deaths.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Disturbing News

 

[90MPH]

Lots of reports on twitter suggesting this was some kind of accidental explosion (a speaker has been mentioned) and then the resulting stampede has caused so many deaths.

Sky news are reporting Bomb Disposal teams arriving at the scene.

It looks unlikely it was a loud speaker explosion and probably a bomb explosion.

However nothing confirmed and hope to god it wasn't a terrorist incident.

 

[Waseem]

It is confirmed as bomb explosion, 20 confirmed deaths and many more injured.

RIP all the innocent victims

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Reportedly 23 are dead and 10 out of these are under 18.

Horrific Scenes.

YaAllah Rehum

 

[90MPH]

Guys I just heard the explosion from a dash cam shown on sky news - it's almost certain a bomb explosion.

That explosion sounded massive.

 

[QazzarFan]

It is confirmed as bomb explosion, 20 confirmed deaths and many more injured.

RIP all the innocent victims

Any source?

 

[90MPH]

Any source?

Pakistani news channels are just speculating a lot.

BBC and Sky are waiting for confirmation though.

 

[Waseem]

Any source?

Watching live coverage of 7 News Australia, they spoke to many people who heard couple of balsts and it seems explosion was in the foyer and many victims have nail injuries.

 

[Junaids]

Manchester is my hometown, and I grew up in the shadow of Irish Catholic terrorism there. No one religion has a monopoly on terrorism.

I hope this turns out to be an accident. But the fact that this is an hour down the road from "Pakistani" Bradford makes me very short of confidence.

If the worst case scenario turns out to be the reality, this takes us down a very dark road indeed, which in such a scenario ends in things like internment, closure of places of worship or even criminalisation of beards.

All of which already occur in western China, for example.

Let's just hope that casualty numbers are low and that it's an accident.

At least Theresa May is PM. She was the longest serving Home Secretary in living memory, and her credentials on security are formidable.

 

[Junaids]

Who bombs a teenage concert?

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Fox News has already begun " Islamist Rhetoric "


There were around 20,000 people in the stadium and explosion took place when the Concert had just ended. (Sky News)

 

[90MPH]

One eyewitnes told BBC radio that he saw around 20 bodies scattered. He says it was a miracle he survived.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Who bombs a teenage concert?

We don’t know yet.

 

[90MPH]

Who bombs a teenage concert?

Someone with a ISIS mindset - they are the worst of the worst and will literally go to any length to cause fear panic and terror. We have seen it in Syria and Iraq. Then in France and Germany.

They have been all but nearly decimated in Iraq so what else are they going to do, attack the softest targets.

 

[s28]

The last few nail bomb related incidents in UK have tended to be Right Wing / White terrorists so no need to rush to conclusions

 

[90MPH]

The last few nail bomb related incidents in UK have tended to be Right Wing / White terrorists so no need to rush to conclusions

But ISIS much more likely than a right wing nut job at this stage.

Anyway as you said better to wait.

 

[Saeed]

Rest in peace, I hope the injured recover quickly.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Someone with a ISIS mindset - they are the worst of the worst and will literally go to any length to cause fear panic and terror. We have seen it in Syria and Iraq. Then in France and Germany.

They have been all but nearly decimated in Iraq so what else are they going to do, attack the softest targets.

If it wasn't a speaker or gas explosion than it was an act by a Mentally sick patient.


Let's wait.

 

[90MPH]

19 people have have been killed, confirmed by sky news.

 

[90MPH]

This is a devastating terrorist attack.

Just disgusted and outraged.

 

[Yossarian]

At least Theresa May is PM. She was the longest serving Home Secretary in living memory, and her credentials on security are formidable.

Do refrain from making this into a Party Political broadcast for the Tory party. Similar for using phrases like "But the fact that this is an hour down the road from "Pakistani" Bradford ...". There's going to be enough ready to use this to stoke racial tensions. Best you don't start such in this thread.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Just before Ramadhan and elections ...

 

[Yossarian]

'second suspect device'
posted at 1:26

bbc reporter tim ashburn told bbc 5 live he has been told by police that they have found a second suspect device and want to carry out a controlled explosion.

bbc

 

[QazzarFan]

CNN says possible suicide bomber detonated when people were leaving the arena. How did a suicide bomber get into the arena? NO security check in place?

 

[Yossarian]

CNN says possible suicide bomber detonated when people were leaving the arena. How did a suicide bomber get into the arena? NO security check in place?

according to Manchester Arena statement blast ocurred outside 'in a public space'

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Suicide ?? Straight to hell imbeciles!!

 

[HitWicket]

CNN says possible suicide bomber detonated when people were leaving the arena. How did a suicide bomber get into the arena? NO security check in place?

Sounded like it happened at the ticket office at the entrance to the arena.

 

[troodon]

Rip victims.

 

[90MPH]

Suicide bomber is being widely speculated.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Remember the last blast in Dortmund .. nothing is clear cut

 

[www787]

Sounded like it happened at the ticket office at the entrance to the arena.

There can never be full proof security. It's insane.

 

[Junaids]

The last few nail bomb related incidents in UK have tended to be Right Wing / White terrorists so no need to rush to conclusions

Are you sure?

UKIP won the referendum.

I honestly can't remember any Far Right attacks in the U.K. Just Irish and Islamist terrorism.

 

[Junaids]

CNN says possible suicide bomber detonated when people were leaving the arena. How did a suicide bomber get into the arena? NO security check in place?

If you think back to the Westminster attack a couple of months ago, these things just redouble our determination not to arm ordinary police or to change our way of life. If we do, they win.

 

[Yatoo]

Sadist ISIS or AQ.
I will say ISIS.

Inna lillaahi wa inna ilahi raji'oon

 

[Ellipsism]

The singer has now been admitted into hospital.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Sadist ISIS or AQ.
I will say ISIS.

Inna lillaahi wa inna ilahi raji'oon

ISIS has become the bucket where every such incident can be put away. The issue is local radicalism. ISIS is just the AirBnB of terror.

 

[Bewal Express]

RIP. I just read the news and my heart goes out to the families of the dead and injured.

 

[Yatoo]

ISIS has become the bucket where every such incident can be put away. The issue is local radicalism. ISIS is just the AirBnB of terror.

Don't think a local "lone wolf" can make such a "crude bomb" without having a handler via Internet. Many cases which were earlier considered to he lone wolfs are now being investigated as handler-driven.

Yes. It's local radicalism. But that alone can't make a person take up killing. He needs to feel like part of a "bigger whole". That's where groups like ISIS and AQ come in

 

[CricketCartoons]

Don't think a local "lone wolf" can make such a "crude bomb" without having a handler via Internet. Many cases which were earlier considered to he lone wolfs are now being investigated as handler-driven.

Yes. It's local radicalism. But that alone can't make a person take up killing. He needs to feel like part of a "bigger whole". That's where groups like ISIS and AQ come in

That is why I said ISIS is the AirBnb, which can provide the umbrella to anyone who wants to opt in. It is not ISIS terrorists coming from syria and iraq to blow them in UK, but local radicals who get ideological support and a brand name. Even in the absence of ISIS, this homegrown terror won't go away. Problem is somewhere else. btw, I don't know the details about this particular incident, the comment was on your ISIS remark.

 

[PakLFC]

Not going to speculate who is responsible when then wounds are still so raw. Just sympathise with those who have lost loved ones no matter how it happened, accident or terrorist attack.

 

[Yatoo]

That is why I said ISIS is the AirBnb, which can provide the umbrella to anyone who wants to opt in. It is not ISIS terrorists coming from syria and iraq to blow them in UK, but local radicals who get ideological support and a brand name. Even in the absence of ISIS, this homegrown terror won't go away. Problem is somewhere else. btw, I don't know the details about this particular incident, the comment was on your ISIS remark.

Ya. No one has claimed responsibility yet. Even it's unknown whether it was a suicide bomber or a parked bomb. Looks like the attacker maybe alive and "the group" doesn't want to risk his life.

Local radicalism is because of multitude of reasons, from ideological to socio-economic to political causes including foreign policies. And it requires lot of effort and multi-pronged approach to counter it.

Has any nation been fully successfull to counter localradicalism ?

 

[CricketCartoons]

Ya. No one has claimed responsibility yet. Even it's unknown whether it was a suicide bomber or a parked bomb. Looks like the attacker maybe alive and "the group" doesn't want to risk his life.

Local radicalism is because of multitude of reasons, from ideological to socio-economic to political causes including foreign policies. And it requires lot of effort and multi-pronged approach to counter it.

Has any nation been fully successfull to counter localradicalism ?

I agree with that, curbing local radicalism is that much harder, and blaming ISIS that much easier. But at least the problem should be identified correctly. ISIS corrupting our boyz is passing the buck.

 

[Slog]

Remember the last blast in Dortmund .. nothing is clear cut

the attacks by these right wingers (such as the British MP Cox, or Dortmund attack) are normally small in scale with at worst a handful of deaths. this is an isis type mega death squad

 

[JaDed]

Rip.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Are you sure?

UKIP won the referendum.

I honestly can't remember any Far Right attacks in the U.K. Just Irish and Islamist terrorism.

David Copeland + London.

 

[humzy]

R.I.P to all the deceased.

Just in time for the general elections what a surprise....

 

[Yossarian]

Police: "Bomber died". So definitely terrorism.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Just before Ramadhan and elections ...

What a coincidence.. Or is it?

 

[Robert]

Are you sure?

UKIP won the referendum.

I honestly can't remember any Far Right attacks in the U.K. Just Irish and Islamist terrorism.

There was the Admiral Duncan pub bombing in 1999 and the murder of Jo Cox last year.

 

[CricketCartoons]

What a coincidence.. Or is it?

Might be a false flag.

 

[irfan]

Very shocking, RIP to all the victims. I was born & brought up in Manchester, know the venue well.

 

[Yossarian]

A plea:
Please lets not treat this tragedy as a forum for UK politics. Innocents, including young children, have died, have been murdered. Others are right now in critical conditions in hospitals all around Manchester, with medical staff desperately trying to save their lives. And yet some posters are talking about this in terms of UK politics.

 

[Junaids]

David Copeland + London.

There was the Admiral Duncan pub bombing in 1999 and the murder of Jo Cox last year.

Both David Copeland and Thomas Mair are schizophrenics who acted alone. And neither launched a suicide attack.

Their attacks don't suggest a Far Right menace in the UK. They suggest that people with clinical delusions may gravitate towards extremist movements.

The Manchester attack appears to be a suicide bombing by a perpetrator who thinks that British teenage girls are a fair target.

I'm pretty sure that all of us on this board know who that means.

A key turning point with the IRA campaign of terror was when The Cranberries released the song "Zombie" on 1994.

Finally the mainstream Catholic populations on both sides of the Irish border disowned and flatly rejected the IRA and Sinn Fein. And they at least rang through coded warnings before attacking civilian targets.

If this turns out to be another Islamist atrocity, it would be great if the decent majority of British Pakistani and Muslim society could not just condemn such attacks but actually drive fundamentalists out of acceptable society completely. I'm appalled in general that successive British governments of both sides have tolerated "faith schools" of any religion, and my preference would be for all of them to be closed, and for the families who send their kids to such schools to be rejected and ostracised by their peers.

Hate comes from ignorance. And ignorance comes from kids not being exposed to other members of their community with different values and beliefs.

I apologise if I offend anyone with these arguments, but it strikes me that British governments are so keen to secure Polish Catholic votes in marginal seats that they have lost control of this faith school nonsense and are actually breeding Islamist terror.

 

[Robert]

We don't know the mental state of suicide bombers after the suicide. They might be clinically deluded too.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

What a shame...

These animals are targeting kids now.

RIP all victims and condolences to their families.

My youngest sister(13 years old) loves this singer's (Ariana Grande) music. She wanted to go to her concert but in the end couldn't.

 

[Yossarian]

If this turns out to be another Islamist atrocity, it would be great if the decent majority of British Pakistani and Muslim society could not just condemn such attacks but actually drive fundamentalists out of acceptable society completely. I'm appalled in general that successive British governments of both sides have tolerated "faith schools" of any religion, and my preference would be for all of them to be closed, and for the families who send their kids to such schools to be rejected and ostracised by their peers.

You appear to be hell bent on stoking up racism and hatred.

I regard myself as, to use your words, ".. a decent British Pakistani..". Apart from utterly condemning this atrocity, what else do you expect me to do?

I am no more, and no less, than any other British citizen, whether they be white, brown or black, of African, Asian, Chinese, European or of any other origin. Your statement is implying that somehow I, and the vast majority of others like myself, are complicit in this act of terrorism. And I find that abhorrent and disgusting.

Hate comes from ignorance. And ignorance comes from kids not being exposed to other members of their community with different values and beliefs.

Hate comes from subtly implying that those who have nothing to do with such atrocities, other than perhaps sharing the colour of their skin, are somehow still responsible for these acts of murder and terrorism. And you are doing exactly that with your not so subtle attempts to tar everyone from a particular community with the same brush.

I hope this turns out to be an accident. But the fact that this is an hour down the road from "Pakistani" Bradford makes me very short of confidence.

 

[Junaids]

You appear to be hell bent on stoking up racism and hatred.

I regard myself as, to use your words, ".. a decent British Pakistani..". Apart from utterly condemning this atrocity, what else do you expect me to do?

I am no more, and no less, than any other British citizen, whether they be white, brown or black, of African, Asian, Chinese, European or of any other origin. Your statement is implying that somehow I, and the vast majority of others like myself, are complicit in this act of terrorism. And I find that abhorrent and disgusting.

Hate comes from subtly implying that those who have nothing to do with such atrocities, other than perhaps sharing the colour of their skin, are somehow still responsible for these acts of murder and terrorism. And you are doing exactly that with your not so subtle attempts to tar everyone from a particular community with the same brush.

Sorry, I don't mean that at all. I'm not accusing you of being complicit. Of course you are a highly decent British Pakistani.

I think that in Britain we have normalised a very dangerous phenomenon, faith schools. Of all faiths.

The problem is that they breed ignorance and intolerance in general. But people who send their children to them are treated as mainstream members of society, even though they are grooming their children to be ignorant and judgmental (and yes, I see the irony of ME using those words).

And also yes, since the end of IRA Catholic terrorism there has only been one religion implicated in these attacks in the U.K.

My preference won't come about - I'd like ALL faith schools to be banned. Failing that, I'd like mainstream Catholics and C of E people and Jews and Muslims to treat their peers who send their kids to faith schools as Pariahs, with a clear message that it is not acceptable behaviour.

I think that in modern western societies there should be total separation of religion and education.

At the end of the day, whoever committed this atrocity considered teenage schoolgirls to be fair targets. Whoever it was clearly did not belong in our society (not country, society).

I apologise again for the earlier offence caused.

 

[SL_Fan]

A suicide attack apparently. Very sad to hear RIP.

 

[Yossarian]

My preference won't come about - I'd like ALL faith schools to be banned. Failing that, I'd like mainstream Catholics and C of E people and Jews and Muslims to treat their peers who send their kids to faith schools as Pariahs, with a clear message that it is not acceptable behaviour.

I think that in modern western societies there should be total separation of religion and education.

At the end of the day, whoever committed this atrocity considered teenage schoolgirls to be fair targets. Whoever it was clearly did not belong in our society (not country, society).

I apologise again for the earlier offence caused.

Sorry if I over reacted.

And I happen to agree 100% with everything quoted above.

 

[IMMY69]

A horrendous act of cowadry.

If there is a hell this is where these bombers / murderers belong.

 

[big_gamer007]

RIP to the victims I hope the family and friends of the victims get the strength to deal with this tough time..

 

[Markhor]

Horrific attack that's become depressingly familiar. RIP to those who merely wanted to go a concert but never came back.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Why the hell carry out these attacks in UK ? UK is one of the most accepting and tolerant European nations around.. UK needs to seriously look at their tolerant policies and fricken open their own Guantanamo bay and start locking up a lot of these animal camel jockeys who are involved or supporting these acts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[classic]

RIP.
A very sad day for all. What is this world coming to ?

These people doing atrocious acts are not humans they are Evils/Shaitan.

 

[Yossarian]

Why the hell carry out these attacks in UK ? UK is one of the most accepting and tolerant European nations around.. UK needs to seriously look at their tolerant policies and fricken open their own Guantanamo bay and start locking up a lot of these animal camel jockeys who are involved or supporting these acts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ermm.... you think the British govt and intelligence agencies are just sitting back and doing nothing? As for the rest of your post, do try and follow international affairs, and read about who blames who for what and why, and how all this is justified by each side involved.

Every side involved in armed conflict believes they are in the right - that's why they are prepared to put their owns lives on the line. This has always been the case since time immemorial. If there were any simplistic answers, they would have been tried out already.

 

[shaz619]

RIP Absolutely sickening

Could have been me, I tend to attend WWE shows there and had also bought tickets previously for Fury v Wladmir before it was cancelled. I will still attend the Smackdown show late in the year if it is booked, I will not allow the satanists to win.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Ermm.... you think the British govt and intelligence agencies are just sitting back and doing nothing? As for the rest of your post, do try and follow international affairs, and read about who blames who for what and why, and how all this is justified by each side involved.

Every side involved in armed conflict believes they are in the right - that's why they are prepared to put their owns lives on the line. This has always been the case since time immemorial. If there were any simplistic answers, they would have been tried out already.

There is a reason why these home grown attacks are more common in the UK compared to a place like the US. 911 was a one off not home grown and would never happen again.

 

[Markhor]

There is a reason why these home grown attacks are more common in the UK compared to a place like the US. 911 was a one off not home grown and would never happen again.

There was the Boston bombing and Orlando nightclub shooting in the US recently.

These attacks are hardly commonplace, I can recall about three Islamist attacks since 7/7 which was the Lee Rigby murder, the Westminster attack and this.

 

[Markhor]

Why the hell carry out these attacks in UK ? UK is one of the most accepting and tolerant European nations around.. UK needs to seriously look at their tolerant policies and fricken open their own Guantanamo bay and start locking up a lot of these animal camel jockeys who are involved or supporting these acts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Intelligence services are doing their best, they've foiled over 50 terror attacks since 7/7 including 12 in the last year.

Unless they are given more resources, they cannot follow up on every lead and every person.

These lone wolf attacks are hard to stop, you cannot know for sure what goes on in one's mind.

 

[Yossarian]

There is a reason why these home grown attacks are more common in the UK compared to a place like the US. 911 was a one off not home grown and would never happen again.

Oh such ignorance being exhibited.

 

[shaz619]

Sorry if I over reacted.

And I happen to agree 100% with everything quoted above.

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] always makes "half hearted" controversial statements before "apologising". Anyhow, I presented this question to him a while back; does he expect us to form a Justice League to eradicate the problem? we're not complicit anymore then Nigel me next door neighbour. I've donated a £5 to the Manchester Evening News who are raising funds to support family's of those killed and injured, it's things like that we can do at the very least but anything more is a bit silly; Junaids doesn't even live in England anymore so he can stop showing fake patriotism.

 

[s28]

Are you sure?

UKIP won the referendum.

I honestly can't remember any Far Right attacks in the U.K. Just Irish and Islamist terrorism.

Incredible this guy gives a superficial impression of being ostentatiously intelligent but then claims ignorance of Far Right attacks in the UK ?! That is either real ignorance on his part (probably due to the Mainstream media promoting a racist narrative) or complete cognitive dissonance

I can immediately reel off the names of Far Right UK terrorists (Tovey, Copeland, Mair etc)

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Why the hell carry out these attacks in UK ? UK is one of the most accepting and tolerant European nations around.. UK needs to seriously look at their tolerant policies and fricken open their own Guantanamo bay and start locking up a lot of these animal camel jockeys who are involved or supporting these acts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why would you carry out these attacks in any country? What purpose does it serve? Whose purpose does it serve? I can't see how UK Muslims are going to be any better off as a result, or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

Someone will make political mileage out of it without a doubt, not much use to those who lost their lives and their loved ones due to events out of their control.

 

[Markhor]

Arndale Centre being evacuated with a man being arrested.

 

[90MPH]

Rotti do some research before pointlessly blabbering about something.

British intelligence have foiled many attacks in the past few years.

The problem is these IS type thugs only need to be successful once to make it seem not so.

There is no red line for these fanatics, any target is acceptable to them.