Deadly explosion also wounds dozens, as UK police calls explosion at US pop star’s performance a ‘terrorist incident’.

Unconfirmed reports from two unnamed US officials suggested the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.

Following Ariana Grande’s performance, a huge blast went off. Manchester residents claimed to hear the bang a mile away from the arena. The venue held about 20,000 people for the event. 

“This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise.” says May, PM of UK.

Armed police and bomb squads arrived at the scene. 

According to law enforcement, the attack claimed the lives of at least 20 people, and hundreds more were wounded. Ariana Grande is safe, according to her spokesman.

North West Ambulance Service said it had taken 59 casualties from the explosion to hospitals and treated a number of walking wounded.

Greater Manchester Police has established an emergency telephone number in response to the attack. It is: 0161 856 9400.

The prime minister has suspended Conservative Party general election campaigning and will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee later, in response to the attack.

Mrs May said: “We are working to establish the full details” of what happened in Manchester.

“A huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena,” concert-goer Majid Khan, 22, told Britain’s Press Association.

Catherine Macfarlane told Reuters news agency the blast hit after the concert was over.

“We were making our way out and when we were right by the door there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming,” Macfarlane said.

“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.”

“All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected,” Mrs May said.

BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said senior counter-terrorism officers were assembling in London and liaising with the Home Office.

Police responded to reports of an explosion shortly after 10:35 pm (21:35 GMT) at the arena, which has the capacity to hold 21,000 people, where the US singer had been performing to an audience that included many children.

“So far 19 people have been confirmed dead with around 50 others injured,” Ian Hopkins, Greater Manchester chief constable, said in a statement, adding that those wounded were being treated at six hospitals across Greater Manchester. “