Manchester Arena 'explosions': Two loud bangs heard at Ariana Grande gig as emergency services rush to scene

Manchester Arena 'explosions': Two loud bangs heard at Ariana Grande gig as emergency services rush to scene

People attending the concert fled in panic on hearing the noises - some in tears and some bleeding

Emergency services are rushing to reports of two loud bangs described as 'explosions' at Manchester Arena tonight.

People attending the concert by pop star Ariana Grande fled in panic on hearing the noises - some in tears.

Greater Manchester Police have tweeted to people to "stay away from the area".

At least 10 police cars, five ambulances and two riot vans have been spotted rushing to the scene.

Twitter users are reporting that they thought it was a 'gun shot' or 'bomb' - but sources say that it might be a speaker that blew during the performance.

The noises were heard at the end of the show.

One Twitter user, Riona, said: "Just got out of Manchester arena after seeing Ariana perform. There was a loud bang when the lights came on & everyone ran out screaming."

MirrorOnline has contacted Greater Manchester Police and the Arena for comment.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/manchester-arena-explosions-two-loud-10478734

Cant see this being a terror attack - just seen live footage and can't see any damage.

People saying it's a "bomb-like bang"

There's a lot of people panicking though.

This is now all over the news.

Hope nobody is hurt.....

http://news.sky.com/story/live-manchester-arena-explosion-10889465

I think we'd know by now if it was a terrorist attack. I think the crowd needs to be managed properly as there seemed to be crowd surges happening.

Police now saying confirmed fatalities

http://news.sky.com/story/live-manchester-arena-explosion-10889465

Here's what we know:

:: Police have confirmed a number of fatalities after reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena

:: The arena was hosting an Ariana Grande concert and the "loud bangs" were heard just after the concert ended

:: The cause of the bangs has not yet been confirmed

No idea if this was a bomb or where due to a stampede people have died.

This is just appalling to happen.

People must be frantic to know whether their loved ones are okay.

Syl lives in Manchester.

eddie wrote:Syl lives in Manchester.

Hope she is safe and sound.

This is just awful, many fatalities. Wonder what on earth has happened.

Miffs2 wrote:This is just awful, many fatalities. Wonder what on earth has happened.

I dread to think what has happened Nems.

Sky's Home Affairs Correspondent Mark White has pointed to the language used by police, in that they are still saying "reports of an explosion".

He says: "The first priority of the emergency services is to get a handle on the situation and reach those injured. That they are doing.

"The fact they've got a number of fatalities tells you this is a significant incident and there may be quite a number of injuries.

"So it can take quite a while even for the police themselves to determine what has happened."

British Transport Police say:

"Officers are at Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening.

"Emergency services are at the scene and we are working to establish more information regarding the explosion and will provide further updates as soon as possible."

A barman at the nearby Steven Charles Snooker Club, who gave his name as Tyler, said he saw people lying on the ground covered in blood.

"We've had a few people in with panic attacks and in all kinds of disarray," he told Press Association.

"We've got four girls here - trying to get them sorted to get picked up.

"There was a gentleman on the floor with his leg all bleeding and woman with blood down one side of her face.

"We felt something but didn't know what it was - there was a sound like thunder.

"One girl had a panic attack and another had streaming tears, a woman had a heart attack just outside.

"It's a lot of teenagers - they're all in tears."

Many of the concert-goers are children and teenagers who have been separated from their parents. With no trains running, some taxi drivers have been offering to take children home and some hotels offering to look after them until their parents can get there.

BREAKING: Bomb disposal teams have arrived at Manchester Arena area and hospitals put on alert

Mark White, Sky's Home Affairs Correspondent, says "the protocols that are being enacted are the protocols for a terrorist incident".

The North West Counter Terrorism Unit is treating the incident in Manchester as a possible terrorist incident, sources said.

Senior national Counter-Terrorism officers are assembling in London and are liaising with the Home Office.

Early estimates put the number of fatalities in double figures, but these are very early stages.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-manchester-40007967

A number of people have died and others have been injured following a reported explosion at Manchester Arena.
Witnesses reported hearing a "huge bang" following a pop concert by US singer Ariana Grande.
Greater Manchester Police said there are a "number of confirmed fatalities and others injured".
Witnesses said they heard two loud bangs, reported to be near the ticket office of the arena. The cause of the reported explosion is unknown.
Manchester Victoria station, which is close to the concert venue, has been closed and all trains cancelled.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted to urge people to stay away from the area.
Manchester explosion: Latest updates
'Screaming and running'
The BBC's Tim Ashburn, who is at the scene, spoke to some volunteer paramedics who treated the injured for "shrapnel-like injuries".
A number of eyewitnesses have described the confusion in the aftermath.
Andy Holey, who had gone to the arena to pick up his wife and daughter who had been at the concert, said: "As I was waiting, an explosion went off and it threw me about 30 feet from one set of doors to the other set of doors.
"When I got up I saw bodies lying on the ground. My first thought was to go into the Arena to try to find my family.
"When I couldn't find them, I went outside with the police and fire and looked through some of the bodies to try and find my wife and daughter.
"I managed to find them eventually and they're OK.
"It was definitely an explosion and it was some force. It happened near the box office at the entrance to the Arena."

Going to log off as sick to my stomach at this

Night everyone

Thoughts go out to all in Manchester tonight

19 dead, 50 injured

Just read it was a suicide bombing, they believe they've found the remains of the bomber.

eddie wrote:Syl lives in Manchester.

My first thought.  Hope everything is alright with her. Has anyone heard?

It now stands at 22 dead and 59 injured.

Ben Reilly wrote:Just read it was a suicide bombing, they believe they've found the remains of the bomber.

Apparently there are bits of him all over the site. You can tell by the flash and the noise it must have been a load of explosives.

What we know so far:

:: 22 people have been killed and 59 have been injured in the blast

:: Children are among the dead

:: The attack was carried out by one male suicide bomber who detonated an improvised explosive device. He died at the scene.

:: Police are investigating whether he acted alone or was part of a network

:: It is the worst terrorist attack in the UK since 56 people were killed in the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.

:: The attack happened on the fourth anniversary of the murder of British solider Lee Rigby in Woolwich, southeast London

:: The explosion rocked the Manchester Arena at the conclusion of a performance by American singer Ariana Grande

:: Manchester Arena said the explosion happened outside the venue, as people began streaming out the doors of the venue

:: Greater Manchester Police said they were called to the venue at around 10.33pm and nearby roads were closed

:: They said the blast is "being treated as a terrorist incident"

:: More than 400 officers were deployed on the operation throughout Monday night.

:: Manchester Victoria station was evacuated and trains cancelled. It remains closed.

:: The victims are being treated at eight hospitals across Greater Manchester

:: The Prime Minister condemned the attack and said she would chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee

:: All national General Election campaigning has been suspended after the explosion

:: A controlled explosion was carried out by police at the Cathedral Gardens area near Manchester Arena shortly after 1.30am

:: Police said the suspicious item at the centre of the controlled explosion was just abandoned clothing


http://news.sky.com/story/live-manchester-arena-explosion-10889465

WHAT IS so chillingly evil about this attack is that it was targetting a concert by a pop singer, where many of the fans would be young teens and children, some reportedly as young as six...

Truly evil, an attack that is aimed towards young innocents, simply out to enjoy themselves..

What the fcuk do they hope to gain from this, apart from more hatred of Muslims?

Thanks for thoughts. x
My grandson works at the MEN when popular shows are on, thank God he wasn't working last night. His manager is in hospital, she is not thought to be seriously injured.

There were children amongst the dead, Ariana Grande has lots of young fans.

RIP the 22 now known to have died and many thoughts go out for the injured and the families involved.

I dread to see in the coming days the photos of the young innocents who were murdered last night.
Its all so utterly utterly sickening and pointless.

Sickening. I don't know where this will all end, if it ever does. I only live a few miles from the Arena and last night I was in my garden looking up at the sky and stars and saying to my husband...'what a beautiful night.' It was around 10.30pm. What a sick world we live in.

Not sure how true this is and needs to be verified, but its important to share:




A mother who was at the Ariana Grande concert with her daughter has spoken of how they were sat next to a woman who kept smirking and looking at the entrance where the bomb later went off.


Dawn Waddy was at the Manchester Arena with her daughter Holly and a friend when they became suspicious at the behaviour of a woman sitting next to them before the explosion.

She told Sky News: "We had somebody sat next to us, looked very suspicious, she was fidgeting all the time with a bag - on the floor, across her - she was by herself.

"She was looking in the direction of where the explosion actually happened all night and smirking to herself.

"I got suspicious myself and my friend - who was actually sat next to her - said 'I don't like this'.

"She was fidgeting with her bag, and the zips on and off, hands in the pockets. It puts you on edge."

Mrs Waddy told security personnel of her concerns and staff monitored the woman but did not take any action.

She said: "They were up and down the stairs where she was sat discreetly watching her. Nothing was actually done about it.
"Later on as the concert was going and Ariana actually came on stage, she was getting more and more agitated.

"The bag was on the floor and I actually sat next to her and I nudged her arm intentionally so I could speak to her.

"And I said 'oh sorry about that, oh are you by yourself?' and she said 'yes' and she spoke to me but I didn't understand it."

Holly then became upset and also went to security personnel, who told her "how would you like it if someone accused you of this, we'll look into it", Mrs Waddy said.

She added: "One to two minutes before the concert finished this lady disappeared and then of course the explosion went off at the other end of the stadium."

Mrs Waddy criticised security at the arena and said bags were not being searched when people entered the venue.

She said: "We walked through the doors when we had our tickets and they scan your tickets and we wasn't even checked.

"They never checked bags at all, I never saw them check anybody's bags."

A Czech woman who was also at the concert in Manchester said there was only a cursory search of bags as people entered the arena.

Nikola Trochtova told Czech public radio: "There was almost no security check, rather zero. They let us get in without any check if we have anything with us.

"The only thing they were interested in was if we had any bottles of water with us. They almost didn't check our bags, they didn't take a look."

Steve Park, an international security analyst who has worked in protecting events including the London 2012 Olympic Games, said the Manchester Arena was a soft target because of all the young people attending the concert.

He told Sky News: "I would imagine this could be a game-changer, especially over the summer period.

"We have a culture of many people going to venues to watch music, watch sport and so forth and it doesn't really matter how big the venue is.

"I imagine there is going to be stringent new bag searches required at these venues, however that does take a great deal of time to orchestrate and can upset people going into venues.


http://news.sky.com/story/manchester-bombing-woman-looked-very-suspicious-before-attack-10889847

Its bad when security dont check bags when events like this are happening.
I remember after the Manchester IRA bomb people were often stopped and had bags searched when entering public places.

We are back on high alert, sad that we ever came off it.

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

WHAT IS so chillingly evil about this attack is that it was targetting a concert by a pop singer, where many of the fans would be young teens and children, some reportedly as young as six...

Truly evil, an attack that is aimed towards young innocents, simply out to enjoy themselves..

This is one of the most evil things I have ever seen.
Life is SO cheap to some people.
Frankly I can scarcely believe it.
RIP to all the innocent dead.

It's been confirmed that this dear little girl is the youngest victim. She looks exactly like my daughter at that age. Heart breaking.

Same age as my grand daughter

(My thanks to didge for keeping this thread updated last night)

I cannot express how awful this is and how it makes me feel to think of all those young lives wiped out and families ruined.

When these atrocities happen, we all have the same outcry...things must change!   Zero tolerance!  Etc etc.   But nothing seems to be changing, it just seems to be getting worse.   But too, I think most of us knew this would happen, it was only a matter of time.    Only the other day I had this discussion with my brother.  Manchester will be next.   I always thought it would be the Trafford Centre.

My son is now of the age where he goes to concerts.  He's going to a three-day one for his birthday in June.

I have to let him go but it's really worrying if I allow myself to think of it.

Afternoon folks!

I have heard that this 'Areola Grande' pop star woman has quite a large gay following... you don't think that this may have been a deliberate targeted attack on homosexuals by a Muslim terrorist, do you?

Why did you call her "the area around a nipple"?

eddie wrote:Why did you call her "the area around a nipple"?

I'm saying now't.....

Tommy Monk wrote:Afternoon folks!

I have heard that this 'Areola Grande' pop star woman has quite a large gay following... you don't think that this may have been a deliberate targeted attack on homosexuals by a Muslim terrorist, do you?

No. I think it was an easy target and a heinous one.

It was a cowardly calculated attack upon what are basically children. Islamics have a habit of this, one only has to look how they attacked that school in russia a while back.

Tommy Monk wrote:Afternoon folks!

I have heard that this 'Areola Grande' pop star woman has quite a large gay following... you don't think that this may have been a deliberate targeted attack on homosexuals by a Muslim terrorist, do you?

You're an idiot, Tommy...

It was a calculated and targetted attack against young concert goers..
Predominantly young women and even pre-teen girls.

Haven't you actually looked at the newsmfootage yet ?

HoratioTarr wrote:When these atrocities happen, we all have the same outcry...things must change!   Zero tolerance!  Etc etc.   But nothing seems to be changing, it just seems to be getting worse.   But too, I think most of us knew this would happen, it was only a matter of time.    Only the other day I had this discussion with my brother.  Manchester will be next.   I always thought it would be the Trafford Centre.

nothing will change as long as people think a few candles, a hashtag, praying and an overlay on their facebook page is the best that can be done.

what we need is for suspects to be rounded up an interned or deported until the war is over, and lets not mince words we are at war with this ideology.

it takes about 20 people to watch a single suspect 24 hours a day. It cant be done for the 1000's of suspects that are roaming free in the UK.

and before the wishy washy liberals begin with their you cant do that to the poor poppets, remind them it could be their kids next.