Concert-goers killed in Manchester explosion

A NUMBER of concert-goers have been killed and many more injured after an explosion at the Manchester Arena as a pop show was drawing to a close last night.

Witnesses described hearing a huge bang at around 10.40pm where thousands of people had been attending an concert by the American artist Ariana Grande.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that there had been a number of fatalities but the cause of the explosion was not immediately known.

Panic quickly spread through the venue as thousands of people fled for the exits after a single bang rocked the venue in the bar area. Concert-goers said they had been told to run from the area by armed police and witnesses reported hearing a “huge bang”.

The area around the arena was swamped with police and emergency services. Approach roads were closed by police. A representative for Grande said she was “okay” following the incident.

Suzy Mitchell, 26, whose flat is opposite the venue, said the explosion was so loud it rocked the whole area.

She said: “I just heard a huge bang from my bed, came out to the front of my apartments – we’re on the top floor so have perfect view – and everyone was running away in big crowds.

“The bang was so big I heard it from my room which is at the back of the apartment blocks. Currently lots of emergency services going to and from. But can’t see anything substantial as of yet except fleeing people and lots of cars.”

One fan at the concert described how the explosion hit the venue as fans were leaving the building.

Majid Khan, 22, said: “I and my sister, along with a lot of others were seeing Ariana Grande perform at Manchester Arena, and we were all exiting the venue when around 10.40-10.45pm-ish a huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena.

“It was one bang and everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us.”