Tuesday morning with unfortunate Manchester Attack News
Children were among 22 people killed in a suicide attack after an Ariana Grande concert at Britain's Manchester Arena, police said early Tuesday. The bomber died when he detonated an improvised explosive device at about 10:33 p.m. local time (5:33 p.m. ET) on Monday night, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins told reporters. Authorities said 59 other people were injured. "We have been treating this as a terrorist incident," Hopkins said. "Our priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network."
More than 400 officers were deployed in what Hopkins described as a "fast-moving investigation." Multiple senior U.S.
law enforcement officials briefed by British authorities told NBC News that forensic evidence at the scene indicated a suicide attack. British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned what she called "an appalling terrorist attack." Police said the explosion took place outside the arena, which is near the Manchester Victoria transit station, as the concert ended, catching people as they exited. Video from inside the arena showed people screaming as they made their way out amid a sea of pink balloons.
Jonathan Arkush, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those caught up in the Manchester Arena attack at the Ariana Grande concert last night.
This savage attack on young people will require a response, but we will not hand victory to the attacker by allowing ourselves to become divided. The response by people of all communities in Manchester, offering shelter and transport to each other, shows our society’s resilience, and that terrorism will not win.”
The attack was incomprehensible, said Gershon Silins, the rabbi for the Manchester Liberal Jewish Community.
“But as the stories come in of the emergency service teams working tirelessly at the scene, of the local families and businesses opening their doors, we are reminded that it is precisely at times like these that our bond as a community is strengthened – not diminished. Today we stand side by side in the wake of this atrocity.
In support of the bereaved and the injured. Today we all stand together.
Blood Banks seeking 0-negative donors.
The blood bank on Norfolk Street in Manchester city center has had to start turning people away because it has had so many people come to donate. Karen Hodgins, a nurse at the center, said they had a queue of about 70 people earlier this morning and were asking people to make appointments online for another time unless they have the blood group O negative. “Most people are not the blood group that we need, which is O-negative, the universal blood type. It’s not rare but it can go to anybody,” she says. She urged people who were O negative to go to a blood bank but said everybody who already had an appointment would be seen today.
Support through a vigil in City Center
The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has urged people to show their support for Manchester by attending tonight’s vigil in the city center. Speaking after taking part, via video link, in the government’s emergency meeting, he said: There is a need for the city, and the city region, to come together, so we are making arrangements for a vigil in the centre of Manchester this evening in Albert Square in front of the town hall. It is important that we send out that clear message, that though we are grieving we are strong and we are together. I would urge people to show their support by possibly attending the vigil tonight. The most important message we must all send together is that we are united and we will not let them win.
Theresa May on the attack
May says she will travel to Manchester later to meet the chief constable, the mayor, and the emergency services. The election campaign has been suspended. It is customary for leaders to condemn the attackers. But the fact we have to say this again does not make this any less true, she says.
We should remember the countless acts of kindness that brought people together, the work of the emergency services and the messages of solidarity and hope from those who opened their homes to victims. “These are the things that represent the spirit of Manchester. It will never be broken.” She says there will be difficult days ahead. Let us remember those who died, and think of those who helped.
Our way of life will always prevail, she says.
Theresa May is making her statement about the Manchester attack in Downing Street. She says she has just chaired a Cobra meeting. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those affected. The people of Manchester have fallen victim to a “callous terrorist attack”, she says.
It is the worst attack Manchester has suffered, and the worst to hit the north of England. May says the police were called to Manchester Arena at 10.33pm. A single terrorist detonated a device near the exit, at a time and place intended to cause maximum injuries. All terrorist attacks are terrible, but this stands out for its cowardice, she says. She says, in addition to the attacker, 22 people have died, and 59 people are being treated in hospital.
Many have life-threatening injuries, she says.
May says if others are responsible for the attack, they will be brought to justice. The police believe that attack was carried out by one person. But they need to find out if they were acting alone. The police think they know the identity of the perpetrator. But the police are not at this point revealing their name. She says doctors and medical staff have worked valiantly to attend to those injured. More resources are being devoted to the police, she says. She says the scene around Manchester Arena will be closed for some time.
Police have made a series of arrests in connection with the terror attack, the Manchester Evening News reports. Arrests were reported in south Manchester, Chorlton, and Ashton.
It remains unclear how many people were arrested or how they are allegedly linked to the investigation. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has called the bombing an “utterly appalling attack” while commending emergency services in Manchester. She said extra police will be on the streets of London “for as long as it is needed”. In a statement, she said: “My thoughts are with the people of Manchester as they try to come to terms with the horrific events that took place in their city last night. “Our colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and their emergency services showed huge bravery as they ran towards the confusion and danger.
Trump on the Manchester Attack
Trump, speaking at a news conference in Bethlehem alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: “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.
We stand in absolute solidarity".
So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by Evil Losers in life.”Trump said he refuses to call terrorists “monsters” as it’s a term that would please them. He added: “I will call them, from now on, losers because that’s what they are, they’re losers, and we’ll have more of them. But they’re losers, just remember that.”
