22 Dead After ISIS Bombing at Ariana Grande Concert in Manchester

by JP Hadley · Published May 23, 2017 · Updated May 23, 2017

19 Dead After Explosion at Ariana Grande Concert in Manchester

Photo credit to Peter Byrne/Press Association, via Associated Press.

UPDATE (10 a.m. ET): The death toll in the attack has risen to 22. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility in a message sent via the encrypted messaging app, Telegram.

“We now know that a single terrorist detonated his improvised explosive device near one of the exits of the venue, deliberately choosing the time and place to cause maximum carnage and to kill and injure indiscriminately,” said British Prime Minister Theresa May on TV.

The explosion early Tuesday morning marked the second Islamic State attack in Britain this year after a man hit four pedestrians with his car and shot a British police officer outside Parliament. The attack was the worst terrorist attack in Britain since the July 7, 2005, attacks on London’s public transit system.

broken.
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017

ORIGINAL STORY: At least 19 concertgoers are dead and 50 more injured after an explosion occurred during an Ariana Grande concert in the Manchester Arena in Great Britain.

Manchester police said the incident was “being treated as a terrorist incident until the police know otherwise”. Eyewitnesses reported hearing at least one explosion in the arena after the show ended, around 10:30 p.m. local time. There are unconfirmed reports that the attack was a suicide bombing using an explosive device filled with nails.

Police statement on incident at Manchester Arena pic.twitter.com/gaKASukx9a

— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 22, 2017

The arena where the explosion occurred opened in 1995, and can hold up to 21,000 spectators. It is unclear how many were in the venue during the concert. Interviews with those involved paint a harrowing scene of a building shaking explosion followed by a panicked rush for the door.

Police conducted a controlled explosion at 1:30 a.m. local time because of a suspicious package that turned out to be abandoned clothing.

This is a developing story, and will be updated with further information as it becomes available.