A suspected terror attack after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena has taken the lives of 19 innocent people and injured at least 59 others.
The explosion took place as the show drew to a close, while fans, many of whom were children, were exiting the arena to make their way home.
Two loud bangs heard around Manchester arena. People running out of the arena. No idea what's going on pic.twitter.com/KaRzQckvEE
— Alan Brennan (@alanbmufc92) May 22, 2017
The singer has now taken to social media saying she is ‘broken’ and lost for words after the atrocity.
broken.
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017
Ariana Grande‘s manager, Scooter Braun, has also released a statement sending thoughts and prayers to those affected, and also thanking the emergency services for their dedication.
— Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) May 23, 2017
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, UNILAD spoke to a number of fans who were there at the time of the reported explosion.
Sebastian Diaz, 19, said:
Just finished and about to leave into the foyer and there was a massive bang, people stood still and panicked. We were going to go back but we got trapped and sprinted out. People didn’t know where to go and loads of young girls were crying.
Adam McKay, 25, described the chaos that followed the loud bang:
There were people covered in blood.
There was a little girl by herself and I helped find her parents. Really bad sights. Just didn’t expect it.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this awful attack.