Police Confirm 22 Killed Following Suspected Terrorist Attack At The Manchester Arena

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that 19 people have been killed and at least 50 injured following a suspected terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena.

People were in attendance for an Ariana Grande concert.

Police were called following a 'serious incident' in the city centre after reports of a suspected bomb inside the 21,000 capacity arena.

Reports suggested that the bomb exploded in the foyer by the box office at the entrance to the arena.

A further controlled explosion of abandoned clothing followed in Manchester's Cathedral Gardens.

Credit: London News Pictures

Jenna-Lea May Alston confirmed this and told LADbible: "I was sat in block 206 and after the concert had finished my boyfriend, Adam, wanted to leave. I told him to stay and wait until people had gone.

"The lights came on and we heard a massive bang. I've never heard anything like it in my life. It was louder than fireworks. There was screaming, you didn't know what to do.

"We tried to go out, and when we did, two girls opened the doors and instantly ran back screaming that there was a bomb. We all thought the absolute worst.

"Eventually when they told us to evacuate we went down the same set of stairs and all I could see were bodies, smoke and blood. I could see man with blood down his back, and young girls.

"It was by where the old McDonald's used to be. There were bodies lying on the floor, I saw it with my own eyes."

Further footage showed the moment that the explosion happened inside the arena.

Sirens were heard across the city as emergency services attended to the scene rapidly. The North West Ambulance Trust asked that only 'life-threatening' emergencies were made to 999 as they dealt with the incident.

British Transport Police quickly stopped any Metrolink and train services going into Victoria Station which runs directly under the arena.

A huge wave of support soon flooded from the residents of Manchester in support of the victims, and offered them places to stay if they were stranded in the city centre. Social media also showed its support for those affected by the incident.

The Holiday Inn near the arena told the BBC that it had taken in up to 50 children without a guardian.

An emergency number is available for those who are concerned about loved ones or anyone who may have been in the area - 0161 856 9400