Terror in the city as suicide bomb kills 22 at arena

Widespread disruption is expected in central Manchester today following a terror attack at Manchester Arena which killed 22 people and injured 59 others.

An explosion detonated by a suicide bomber went off at about 10.35pm last night as the concert by American singer Ariana Grande was coming to a close.

Police have now confirmed they are treating the explosion as a terrorist atrocity – the worst on UK soil for more than a decade.

Victoria Station which adjoins the 21,000 capacity Arena – the UK’s biggest indoor concert venue – remained closed this morning and a number of nearby streets are sealed off as the police investigation into the explosion.

Greater Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham said: “My heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones, my admiration to our brave emergency services. A terrible night for our great city.”

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said:  “This is an absolutely horrifying incident and our thoughts are with everyone affected, especially those who have lost loved ones or been injured and traumatised.

“If it is confirmed this was a terrorist attack it is a monstrous act but also a deeply futile one. Manchester is proud and strong city and we will not allow those who seek to sow fear and division to achieve their aims.

“We give heartfelt thanks to our emergency services for their response and council staff are doing all they can to support.”

North West Ambulance Service said it took 59 casualties from the explosion to hospitals and treated a number of walking wounded, including for “shrapnel-like injuries”.

Greater Manchester Police established an emergency telephone number in response to the attack. It is: 0161 856 9400.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives, Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrats and UKIP have all confirmed that today’s campaigning in the general election has been suspended.
Prime Minister Theresa May is to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee at about 9am today.

She said: “We are working to establish the full details” of what happened in Manchester.

“All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected.”

Unconfirmed reports from two unnamed US officials suggested the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, the BBC said.

The ISIS terror group has not claimed responsibility the atrocity but its supporters are “celebrating” the incident on social media.

Rail firm Northern has said Victoria Station would be closed and is unlikely to re-open until Wednesday morning at the earliest.

There will be no services operating to or from Manchester Victoria until further notice, it said.

Metrolink said that no services will operate through Victoria Station, with services on the Bury and Rochdale via Oldham lines are operating a reduced route until further notice.

Tram services that operate south of the city centre are also set to be affected, with the airport line stopping at Deansgate, the Eccles service running all day via MediaCityUK to Ashton, Altrincham running to the Etihad Campus or Piccadilly and East Didsbury service redirected to Piccadilly.

Streets closed off to traffic this morning in a two-mile radius around the arena are: Miller Street, Shudehill, Whitworth Street, Trinity Way up to Chapel Street, along with a stretch of Rochdale Road.

Northern said it will operate services on the following routes to replace those which would normally call at Manchester:
•    Huddersfield – Stalybridge
•    Wigan – Salford (via Atherton)
•    Leeds – Rochdale
•    Blackpool – Manchester Oxford Road
•    Clitheroe – Bolton – Blackburn
•    Kirby – Wigan