22 people have been killed (a number of them children; one beautiful eight-year-old girl was just confirmed dead) and 59 seriously injured in a heinous suicide terrorist attack at Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert. An explosion was reported towards the end of the event, at 10:35pm local time. Islamic State extremists have claimed responsibility for the attack, just in case there were any doubts they'd sink this low.
Call 0161 856 9400 with any information regarding the attack or those involved
According to Manchester police, the male perpetrator of the attack (considered to be the only one involved, or at least on the scene) killed himself with the explosion, which he set off with the detonation of an improvised explosives device.
An emergency number, 0161 856 9400, was arranged so that terrified relatives frantically searching for their loved ones would have a better chance of finding them, or at least getting better information regarding their whereabouts. Social media is also being used to get families who were broken apart by the blast back together.
It's worth mentioning that Ariana Grande's fan-base is made up of children and teenagers, so whatever sicko decided to carry out this disgusting attack knew they'd be killing some children. The Eagles of Death Metal is one thing, but this is horrendous. 60 ambulances were needed at the incident, and the attendees with injuries are now having their wounds treated at six hospitals in the Manchester area.
Police chief: attack is 'the most horrific incident' in Manchester ever
Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said the attack was "the most horrific incident" that had ever taken place in Greater Manchester. He said the investigation into the incident has been "fast-moving" and that the biggest priority now is figuring out whether the perpetrator "was acting alone or as part of a network."
Eyewitness accounts from the Manchester Arena incident claim that nuts and bolts were seen as part of the shrapnel from the blast and described the air of horror surrounding the attack, as well as the terror and confusion felt by the unsuspecting concertgoers.
Andy Holey, who was at the concert to pick up his wife and daughter described how the explosion "threw me about 30 feet from one set of doors to the other set of doors." Upon getting to his feet, Holey said he could see "bodies lying on the ground."
Among other eyewitness accounts from Manchester concertgoers, Emma Johnson described being at the concert to pick up her 15- and 17-year-old kids when "the glass exploded." Then, Johnson said, "the whole building shook" and "there were bodied everywhere." Abigail Walker, a teenager who was at the concert, described taking her sister through a crowd of people who were "running and crying." Walker said the incident was "absolutely terrifying." Charlotte Campbell explained to the BBC that her 15-year-old daughter Olivia is still missing, and "she's out there on her own, because her friend has been found." Campbell said, "I just want her home."
Counterterrorist measures have been increased in the UK recently
For almost three years, the terrorist threat in the UK has been considered very severe, with attacks likely.
However, the counterterrorist measures in the UK have been amped up recently in the wake of this. On average, there's been a terror suspect arrested every day in recent months. After the Westminster Bridge attack back in March, UK security officials warned that more attacks were sure to come. The Manchester Arena incident has been compared to the 2015 Paris attack, which involved Syrian attackers using guns and suicide belts. This one only used an improvised explosives device, but it would still have been a premeditated attack despite this.
