Explosion reported at Manchester Arena; Fatalities, Injuries Confirmed
By: channelnewsasia
LONDON: British police said they are responding to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena on Monday (May 22), where US singer Ariana Grande had been performing.
In a statement posted on Twitter, police confirmed there were a number of fatalities and injuries due to the incident.
Police statement on incident at Manchester Arena pic.twitter.com/gaKASukx9a
— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 22, 2017
It urged members of the public to avoid the area.
“Emergency services responding to serious incident at Manchester Arena,” Greater Manchester Police said in an earlier statement.
A witness who was at the venue in the northern English city of Manchester where US singer Ariana Grande had been performing said she felt a massive explosion as she was leaving the concert.
“We were making our way out and when we were right by the door there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming,” Catherine Macfarlane told Reuters.
“It was a huge explosion – you could feel it in your chest. It was chaotic. Everybody was running and screaming and just trying to get out of the area.”
A video posted on Twitter showed fans screaming and running inside the venue.
A spokesman for the singer said she “is okay”.
Britain is on its second-highest alert level of “severe” meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.
Source: Reuters