Deaths confirmed after Manchester Arena blast reports

[Gort]

A number of people have died and others have been injured following a reported explosion at Manchester Arena.

Witnesses said they heard two loud bangs, reported to in the foyer, after a pop concert by singer Ariana Grande.

Greater Manchester Police said there are a "number of confirmed fatalities and others injured".

The cause of the reported explosion is unknown but the North West Counter Terrorism Unit is treating it as a possible terrorist incident.

BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said senior counter-terrorism officers are assembling in London and are liaising with the Home Office.

He said early estimates put the number of fatalities in double figures, although these are not confirmed.

Manchester Victoria station, which is close to the concert venue, has been closed and all trains cancelled. British Transport Police say explosion was in the foyer area of Manchester Arena.

Absolutely shocking...

[Psalms]

Sorry to hear this

[voice]

19 dead, a room full of kids. Sick fecks

[Gort]

The question is WHY!Why would some sick fuk do this to innocent people

[jimboky]

My thoughts are with all the victims/family's sad day,
sick fuk!

[clarity]

Cruel cowardly terrorists targeting young children. Just dreadful. Many young children were attending on their own so there was mayhem while parents tried to find their kids. 19 dead and 59 injured in hospital.

[voice]

Plod are saying it was a suicide bomber, 59 taken to hospital

[redanchor1]

Horrible.

Not a surprise though.

[jimboky]

I heard 19 dead, 50 injured, but it is early, people there are busy and things are confusing, these numbers usually go up

[voice]

Still the response from the public has been marvelous to see, hotels opening their rooms for stranded kids,taxi drivers turning off their meters and just running cars full of people away from the venue, people offering to take in families and teens stranded.

[jimboky]

this always happens at these things Voice, that's the difference between real people and these terrorist,

[voice]

It's affirming to be sure, just has some scouce taxi drive on the telly saying a whole convoy of em came over from Liverpool to shuttle people back there as the trains have stopped.

[clarity]

The kindness of strangers arriving to help is amazing. Just saw that scouse taxi driver interviewed. Lovely kind man. Those children in the hotel must be so scared, hopefully they are reunited with their parents soon. Mostly the crowd were young teenagers, some even younger were attending with their parents. Just awful for them.

[voice]

Very soft target

[Repat Van]

How horrifying!

Thoughts to all those affected and nearby. Wonder if this will change the security situation at these venues. I am in Israel at the moment and had to have my bag searched to enter a shopping mall. That said at music festivals in Oz I have always been searched prior to entry.

[Repat Van]

May 23, 2017 2:42:29 GMT voice said:

Still the response from the public has been marvelous to see, hotels opening their rooms for stranded kids,taxi drivers turning off their meters and just running cars full of people away from the venue, people offering to take in families and teens stranded.

Brilliant to see.

[perrykneeham]

Depraved.

[mids]

f**k**g hell no. Whats the average age at an Ariana Grande concert? Can only be mid teens or thereabouts.

[nobody]

A bad day for Manchester and the UK

Thoughts go out to all the people and families caught up in this tragedy.

Filthy terrorist scum

[lala]

Let's see ... Murderer will turn out to be ...

- British born
- Recent convert
- History of petty criminal activity
- Known to police and / or mental health services
- Recent failed relationship
- A "Bit of a loner" according to neighbours
- Early 20s