A suicide bomb blast has killed 22 people, including children, at Manchester Arena moments after a packed Ariana Grande concert on Monday night (May 22)

The attack, which injured 59 people, was carried out by a "lone male suicide bomber", who detonated an "improvised explosive device" and died at the arena, said Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

It is the worst attack in Britain since 56 people died in the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.

GMP said they were called to the venue at around 10.33pm, with more than 400 officers deployed during the night.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: "This has been the most horrific incident we have had to face in Greater Manchester and one we all hoped we would never see.

"Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives.

"Our thoughts are with those 22 victims that we now know have died, the 59 people who have been injured and their loved ones.

"We continue to do all we can to support them. They are being treated at eight hospitals across Greater Manchester."

Chief Constable Hopkins continued: "As you will appreciate this is a fast-moving investigation and we have significant resources deployed to both the investigation and the visible patrols that people will see across Greater Manchester as they wake up to the news of the events last night.

"This will include armed officers as people would expect and more than 400 officers have been deployed on this operation throughout the night."

Victims were receiving treatment across eight Greater Manchester hospitals and Manchester Victoria station was evacuated and trains cancelled following the blast.

The Prime Minister condemned what she labelled an "appalling terrorist attack" explained that she would chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday.

All national General Election campaigning was suspended after the Manchester explosion.

Police carried out a controlled explosion at the Cathedral Gardens area near Manchester Arena shortly after 1.30am.

The suspicious item at the centre of the controlled explosion was reported by police to be just abandoned clothing.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins added: "We then received more than 240 calls and emergency services responded very quickly to the scene.

"Emergency numbers have been established for anyone who is concerned for their loved ones who may not have returned home, these numbers are 0161 856 9400 or 0161 856 9900.

"We have been treating this as a terrorist incident and we believe at this stage the attack last night was conducted by one man. The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network.

"The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated causing this atrocity.

"We would ask people not to speculate on his details or share names. This is a complex and wide ranging investigation.

"Our priority is to work with the National Counter-Terrorist Policing Network and UK intelligence services to establish more details about the individual who carried out this attack."

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