Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that so far 19 people have been killed after the incident at Manchester Arena on Monday night. Around 50 others are said to have been injured.
A statement from GMP indicated that officers had responded to reports of an explosion at the concert venue at 10:35pm, shortly after a performance from Ariana Grande had finished.
Although the cause is yet to be confirmed, the statement also added that they were ‘treating it as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise.’
Latest statement on incident at Manchester Arena pic.twitter.com/BEpLOan3dY
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017
Earlier, GMP had confirmed that there had been fatalities after the incident, with the BBC’s Daniel Sandford tweeting that a meeting of the country’s senior Counter-Terrorism officers had been called in London in response to it.
Senior national Counter-Terrorism officers are assembling in London. Early estimates put fatalities at #ManchesterArena in double figures
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) May 22, 2017
GMP urged people to stay away from the scene, with nearby Victoria Station remaining closed.
