A lone suicide bomber — identified as Salman Abedi, 22-year-old, of ISIS — set off a powerful homemade bomb at a concert of US pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester city, killing at least 22 people and injuring 59 others, in the deadliest terror attack in Britain since the 2005 london
bombings.
The ISIS terror group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the bombing and warned of more attacks.
The group said in a statement on its social media sites that “one of the caliphate’s soldiers placed bombs among the crowds.”
Prime Minister Theresa May said the people of Manchester have fallen victim to a “callous terrorist attack”.
Screaming concert-goers, including children fled the venue in panic. Children and teenagers were among the
dead because of the very young demographic of the pop
star’s fans.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion was heard after the artist had finished her show and left the stage.
Grande tweeted, “Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.”
Police confirmed the attacker died at the arena.
The blast comes just weeks before the snap UK general election, campaigning for which was hotting up over the issue of Brexit — the UK’s exit from the European Union. However, both May and labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn suspended election campaign after the attack.