In the wake of the Manchester Arena terror attack, which killed 22 people, footage from inside the arena has been released on social media.
An Ariana Grande concert-goer filmed the moments after the first explosion took place, in which crowds can be seen fleeing the arena in Central Manchester after a suicide bombing.
Amid the harrowing scenes of chaos, an eerie voice can be heard over the tannoy delivering a calm message to the terrified fans in the footage.
Me and a friend trying to exit Manchester Arena while the staff were telling everyone to keep calm and not run #scary #arianagrande pic.twitter.com/r9GFZpOe4D
— alex (@butterywig101) May 22, 2017
The voice said:
Ladies and gentlemen please take your time, there’s no need to bunch up. There’s no problems here, just take your time and exit the building.
There’s no need to run, take your time, there’s no problems here. Thank you for coming and having a good time tonight, everything is fine.
It is unclear whether the announcer was oblivious to the horror ensuing, or whether arena staff were desperately trying to keen people calm.
Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena.There are a number of…
Posted by Greater Manchester Police on Monday, 22 May 2017
As concert-goers, including many teenagers and children, fled the confirmed suicide bomb attack, Manchester locals offered up their homes as respite to those stranded, while authorities conducted a controlled explosion of another object found close by.
Bomb disposal units were deployed along with a fleet of riot vehicles and emergency services.
There will be a controlled explosion in Cathedral gardens shortly if you hearing anything don't be concerned.
— G M Police (@gmpolice) May 23, 2017
At least 59 people have been injured in the attack and there have been 22 confirmed fatalities.
A Cobra security meeting is expected to take place around 9am this morning, Tuesday 23 May and senior counter-terrorism officers are now ‘assembling in London and are liaising with the Home Office’.
Our thoughts are with anyone affected by this devastating attack.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.