[UPDATE] Police Confirm Ariana Grande UK Gig Explosion Carried Out By Bomber

23 May 2017 | 8:42 am | Staff Writer

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UPDATE: 4.04pm

Police say the explosion was the result of one attacker who they believe detonated an improvised explosive device at Manchester Arena. 

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said in a conference just minutes ago that they believe the attacker died on the scene after detonating the device.

Hopkins also confirmed there are children amongst the deceased, which has increased to 22.

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UPDATE: 2.16pm

Ariana Grande has reportedly suspended her Dangerous Woman world tour indefinitely following the reported explosion at her UK gig — read more here

Meanwhile, the injury toll has reportedly risen to 59.


UPDATE: 12.55pm

​Ariana Grande has broken her silence on the incident, taking to Twitter just minutes ago.

UPDATE: 12.06pm

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins confirmed that police are working with the counter-terrorism unit. 

"We are currently treating this as a terrorist incident until we have further information," Hopkins said in a statement. 

"This is clearly a very concerning time for everyone. We're doing all we can… to support those affected as we gather info about what happened last night."

See the full statement below.


UPDATE: 10.11am

Manchester police have reported that 19 people have died following the reported explosion following Ariana Grande's concert, while 50 more have been confirmed injured. See the full statement below.


UPDATE: 9.53am

It is being reported that the incident at Manchester Arena is being treated as a "possible terrorist incident", though it cannot be confirmed at this time. 

Authorities have since revealed the reported explosion occurred in the foyer area of the venue and not inside the concert room as suspected.


UPDATE: 9:40am

Sky News are now reporting that bomb disposal teams have been deployed to Manchester Arena following the incident after Ariana Grande's concert. 

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

Meanwhile, ABC have reported that the Australian High Commission in London has made enquiries to determine if any Australians were amongst the injured or deceased.


UPDATE: 8.48am

Police have confirmed there are "a number of fatalities" following the incident at Manchester Arena. See the full statement below.

A spokesman for Ariana Grande has said that the US singer is "okay" and that they are "further investigating what happened".


UK's Sky News are reporting that fans have been evacuated from an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester following what was suggested to have been an loud explosive sound inside the venue. 

Police are currently on scene at Manchester Arena and it has been speculated on social media that the loud noise that went off in the arena after the show could have been due to a blown speaker, or from large pink balloons that were scattered across the crowd. 

The cause of the loud noise is yet to be officially confirmed.

Footage shared online shows panicked fans quickly fleeing the venue and police are are calling this is a "serious incident" and are urging people to stay clear of Manchester Arena and the surrounding areas. 

Surrounding train stations have also been closed off. 

One witness, Oliver Jones, claimed that "security was running out as well as the fans and concert goers" and that there were "reports of blood and people injured".

Grande is currently in the middle of the European leg her Dangerous Woman world tour and is scheduled to head to Australia in September.

More to come.