Police: 19 Dead, More Than 50 Injured After Explosion At Manchester Arena UK

MANCHESTER, England – The Greater Manchester Police have confirmed 19 people have died and more than 50 people have been injured following an explosion at Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena. Police in northern England said they are now treating the incident as a possible terrorist incident, but have not confirmed it as an actual act of terror.

This comes after reports of an explosion near the arena just shortly before 10:35 p.m. local time, following the conclusion of the concert. Investigators are zeroing in on the possibility of a suicide bomber in the public area in front of the arena.

Video from inside the arena showed concertgoers screaming as they made their way out amid a sea of pink balloons.

Investigators are focusing on a public area just outside of the box office area and there are reports the explosion was so powerful, some concertgoers, sitting several meters away, were thrown from their seats after the concussive event.

Witnesses said the concert had just ended when a loud explosion-like sound could be heard.

“A huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena,” concertgoer Majid Khan, 22, told Britain’s Press Association. “It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit.”

Added Oliver Jones, 17: “The bang echoed around the foyer of the arena and people started to run.”

Some trying to evacuate the arena report smelling a “burning” smell while trying to leave the facility.