Nineteen people have been killed and about 50 injured in a suspected terror attack at Manchester Arena.
Police were called to reports of an explosion at the venue at about 22:35 BST following a pop concert by the US singer Ariana Grande.
The cause of the blast is unknown but North West Counter Terrorism unit is treating it as a possible terrorist incident, sources have told the BBC.
Greater Manchester Police is working to set up a contact number for relatives.
Officers have told the BBC there is a second suspect device near where the first explosion occurred.
Reporters were moved away from the scene and a controlled explosion has taken place.
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said senior counter-terrorism officers were assembling in London and liaising with the Home Office.
British Transport Police say the explosion was in the foyer area of Manchester Arena.
Manchester Victoria station, which is close to the concert venue, has been closed and all trains cancelled.
Manchester explosion: Latest updates
Media captionFootage shows a string of emergency services vehicles rushing to the scene
'Screaming and running'
The BBC's Tim Ashburner, who is at the scene, spoke to some volunteer paramedics who treated the injured for "shrapnel-like injuries".
A number of eyewitnesses have described the confusion in the aftermath.
Andy Holey, who had gone to the arena to pick up his wife and daughter who had been at the concert, said: "As I was waiting, an explosion went off and it threw me about 30ft from one set of doors to the other set of doors.
"When I got up I saw bodies lying on the ground. My first thought was to go into the arena to try to find my family.
"When I couldn't find them, I went outside with the police and fire and looked through some of the bodies to try and find my wife and daughter.
"I managed to find them eventually and they're OK.
"It was definitely an explosion and it was some force. It happened near the box office at the entrance to the Arena."
Media captionEyewitness Andy says he saw "about 30" people scattered, some of whom "looked dead"
At the scene: Tom Mullen BBC News
The police activity around the arena has been huge. There are blue flashing lights and cordons seemingly on almost every street corner.
A wide area around the venue itself has been completely taped off, and the crime scene appears to be widening, with police pushing people further and further back.
I've spoken to people who are shaken, scared and often tearful. One thing that's apparent is there are many, many young people, some of them with parents or guardians. One mother told me her priority was simply to get her daughters home.
Other people have been more candid and have described seeing people covered in blood, or being treated by paramedics. There's still a huge sense of confusion and people are constantly searching for information while letting their families know they're safe.
Robert Tempkin, 22, from Middlesbrough, said: "Everyone was screaming and running, there were coats and people's phones on the floor. People just dropped everything.
"Some people were screaming they'd seen blood but other people were saying it was balloons busting or a speaker had been popped.
"There were lots of ambulances. I saw somebody being treated. I couldn't tell what had happened to him."
Image copyright Peter Byrne
Josh Elliott, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said he was shocked by news of the fatalities.
"A bang went off and everyone stopped and screamed... we basically hit the deck," he said
"It was bedlam… it was horrific.
"We got up when we thought it was safe and got out as quickly as possible.
"People were just crying and in tears... police cars were everywhere.
"We just wanted to get out as quickly as possible because we didn't know what was going on."
The background - Ian Youngs, BBC News entertainment reporter
Manchester Arena, formerly known as the MEN Arena, is the biggest indoor venue in the city with a capacity of around 18,000 for concerts.
The arena foyer connects with Victoria train and tram station, a major hub on the northern edge of the city centre.
The arena regularly hosts concerts by major stars like Ariana Grande - a 23-year-old American TV teen actress-turned-pop star.
She's a big draw for young fans, with hits including Problem, featuring Iggy Azalea, which hit number one in the UK in 2014; and Side To Side, featuring Nicki Minaj, which reached number four last year.
She's currently on a European tour - she's already played Birmingham and Dublin and is due to be at the O2 Arena in London on Wednesday and Thursday.
Michelle Sullivan, from Huddersfield, was attending the concert with her daughters, aged 12 and 15.
"It was really scary," she said. "Just as the lights have gone down we heard a really loud explosion... Everybody screamed.
"When we got out they just said 'keep on running, keep on running'."
Pat Carney, Manchester City Council's spokesman for the city centre, said the city's thoughts were with the families of those killed and injured.
"It's a very easy target - a concert hall where young people are enjoying music," he said.
"The public are really co-operating by staying away from what is basically now a crime site.
"The world we live in, police and the council have emergency procedures that we practise all the time.
"Obviously everyone in the city is shocked, having seen how young some of these people are
"The police are treating it as a live site, we don't know if this is the end or there are other incidents in that area... we don't know at the moment."
Within an hour of reports of the incident emerging, people began offering spare rooms and beds to people stranded in the city using the hashtag #RoomForManchester.
Hundreds of tweets offering places to stay are being shared and re-tweeted thousands of times.
Police were called to reports of an explosion at the venue at about 22:35 BST following a pop concert by the US singer Ariana Grande.
The cause of the blast is unknown but North West Counter Terrorism unit is treating it as a possible terrorist incident, sources have told the BBC.
Greater Manchester Police is working to set up a contact number for relatives.
Officers have told the BBC there is a second suspect device near where the first explosion occurred.
Reporters were moved away from the scene and a controlled explosion has taken place.
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Daniel Sandford said senior counter-terrorism officers were assembling in London and liaising with the Home Office.
British Transport Police say the explosion was in the foyer area of Manchester Arena.
Manchester Victoria station, which is close to the concert venue, has been closed and all trains cancelled.
Manchester explosion: Latest updates
Media captionFootage shows a string of emergency services vehicles rushing to the scene
'Screaming and running'
The BBC's Tim Ashburner, who is at the scene, spoke to some volunteer paramedics who treated the injured for "shrapnel-like injuries".
A number of eyewitnesses have described the confusion in the aftermath.
Andy Holey, who had gone to the arena to pick up his wife and daughter who had been at the concert, said: "As I was waiting, an explosion went off and it threw me about 30ft from one set of doors to the other set of doors.
"When I got up I saw bodies lying on the ground. My first thought was to go into the arena to try to find my family.
"When I couldn't find them, I went outside with the police and fire and looked through some of the bodies to try and find my wife and daughter.
"I managed to find them eventually and they're OK.
"It was definitely an explosion and it was some force. It happened near the box office at the entrance to the Arena."
Media captionEyewitness Andy says he saw "about 30" people scattered, some of whom "looked dead"
At the scene: Tom Mullen BBC News
The police activity around the arena has been huge. There are blue flashing lights and cordons seemingly on almost every street corner.
A wide area around the venue itself has been completely taped off, and the crime scene appears to be widening, with police pushing people further and further back.
I've spoken to people who are shaken, scared and often tearful. One thing that's apparent is there are many, many young people, some of them with parents or guardians. One mother told me her priority was simply to get her daughters home.
Other people have been more candid and have described seeing people covered in blood, or being treated by paramedics. There's still a huge sense of confusion and people are constantly searching for information while letting their families know they're safe.
Robert Tempkin, 22, from Middlesbrough, said: "Everyone was screaming and running, there were coats and people's phones on the floor. People just dropped everything.
"Some people were screaming they'd seen blood but other people were saying it was balloons busting or a speaker had been popped.
"There were lots of ambulances. I saw somebody being treated. I couldn't tell what had happened to him."
Image copyright Peter Byrne
Josh Elliott, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said he was shocked by news of the fatalities.
"A bang went off and everyone stopped and screamed... we basically hit the deck," he said
"It was bedlam… it was horrific.
"We got up when we thought it was safe and got out as quickly as possible.
"People were just crying and in tears... police cars were everywhere.
"We just wanted to get out as quickly as possible because we didn't know what was going on."
The background - Ian Youngs, BBC News entertainment reporter
Manchester Arena, formerly known as the MEN Arena, is the biggest indoor venue in the city with a capacity of around 18,000 for concerts.
The arena foyer connects with Victoria train and tram station, a major hub on the northern edge of the city centre.
The arena regularly hosts concerts by major stars like Ariana Grande - a 23-year-old American TV teen actress-turned-pop star.
She's a big draw for young fans, with hits including Problem, featuring Iggy Azalea, which hit number one in the UK in 2014; and Side To Side, featuring Nicki Minaj, which reached number four last year.
She's currently on a European tour - she's already played Birmingham and Dublin and is due to be at the O2 Arena in London on Wednesday and Thursday.
Michelle Sullivan, from Huddersfield, was attending the concert with her daughters, aged 12 and 15.
"It was really scary," she said. "Just as the lights have gone down we heard a really loud explosion... Everybody screamed.
"When we got out they just said 'keep on running, keep on running'."
Pat Carney, Manchester City Council's spokesman for the city centre, said the city's thoughts were with the families of those killed and injured.
"It's a very easy target - a concert hall where young people are enjoying music," he said.
"The public are really co-operating by staying away from what is basically now a crime site.
"The world we live in, police and the council have emergency procedures that we practise all the time.
"Obviously everyone in the city is shocked, having seen how young some of these people are
"The police are treating it as a live site, we don't know if this is the end or there are other incidents in that area... we don't know at the moment."
Within an hour of reports of the incident emerging, people began offering spare rooms and beds to people stranded in the city using the hashtag #RoomForManchester.
Hundreds of tweets offering places to stay are being shared and re-tweeted thousands of times.
uke1:
[h=1]Initial evidence suggests the attack may have been a suicide bombing, according to two U.S. security officials [/h]Post World
@PostWorldNewsInitial evidence suggests the attack may have been a suicide bombing, according to two U.S. security officials
@PostWorldNewsInitial evidence suggests the attack may have been a suicide bombing, according to two U.S. security officials
[h=1]'Suicide bomber' strikes at Manchester Arena: Nineteen people are killed and 50 injured in terrorist attack as 'nail bomb near the exit' explodes, ripping into teens leaving packed Ariana Grande gig[/h]
- Nineteen people killed after explosions rang out at the end of an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester Arena
- Video footage showed thousands fleeing in tears from the venue, many covered in blood, when gig ended
- Armed officers surrounded venue and bloodied concertgoers pictured being helped by emergency services
- Horrifying footage showed petrified children leaping over chairs and barriers as they tried to escape
- At 3am chief constable of Greater Manchester Police said they were treating it as a 'terrorist incident'
At least 19 people are dead and 50 more injured after a suspected suicide bomber targeted children leaving a packed pop concert at Manchester Arena last night.
Witnesses told of nuts and bolts tearing into young concert-goers when the blast was detonated in the foyer area between the arena and the next-door Victoria station just after the Ariana Grande gig ended.
Horrifying footage showed petrified children leaping over chairs and barriers as they desperately tried to escape the 21,000-seat venue, which led to a stampede. Two US officials have said it was a suspected suicide bomber.
Armed officers surrounded the venue and bloodied casualties were seen being stretchered out of the concert that resembled a 'war zone'.
Last night police carried out a controlled explosion at Cathedral Gardens after finding a second suspicious device.
At 3am Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said they were treating it as a 'terrorist incident' and that the injured were being cared for at six hospitals.
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Casualties are stretchered out of the concert tonight after a terror attack in the Ariana Grande concert
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Bloodied concertgoers were pictured being helped by armed police outside the arena after explosions rang out at the gig
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Concert-goers and witnesses have described the chaos after 'huge bomb-like bangs' went off in Manchester Arena following an Ariana Grande gig
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A father carries away his daughter following the suspected terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert
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This was the scene inside the Manchester Arena tonight after the suspected terror attack at the teen concert
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Concert-goers helped injured people make their way from the gig in Manchester tonight
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Witnesses reported hearing a 'huge bang' at the venue shortly after US singer Ariana Grande's gig finished
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This graphic shows where the explosion took place, in the foyer area, leading towards Victoria railway station
Witnesses told of nuts and bolts tearing into young concert-goers when the blast was detonated in the foyer area between the arena and the next-door Victoria station just after the Ariana Grande gig ended.
Horrifying footage showed petrified children leaping over chairs and barriers as they desperately tried to escape the 21,000-seat venue, which led to a stampede. Two US officials have said it was a suspected suicide bomber.
Armed officers surrounded the venue and bloodied casualties were seen being stretchered out of the concert that resembled a 'war zone'.
Last night police carried out a controlled explosion at Cathedral Gardens after finding a second suspicious device.
At 3am Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said they were treating it as a 'terrorist incident' and that the injured were being cared for at six hospitals.
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Casualties are stretchered out of the concert tonight after a terror attack in the Ariana Grande concert
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Bloodied concertgoers were pictured being helped by armed police outside the arena after explosions rang out at the gig
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Concert-goers and witnesses have described the chaos after 'huge bomb-like bangs' went off in Manchester Arena following an Ariana Grande gig
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A father carries away his daughter following the suspected terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert
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This was the scene inside the Manchester Arena tonight after the suspected terror attack at the teen concert
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Concert-goers helped injured people make their way from the gig in Manchester tonight
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Witnesses reported hearing a 'huge bang' at the venue shortly after US singer Ariana Grande's gig finished
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This graphic shows where the explosion took place, in the foyer area, leading towards Victoria railway station
Evie Brewster, who attended the concert, told MailOnline: 'Ariana Grande had just finished her last song and left the stage when a huge explosion sounded.
'Suddenly everybody started screaming and running for the exit.
'We could hear the police and ambulance sirens. It was terrifying.
'There were thousands of people trying to get out at once. They were all screaming and crying. The whole place smelt smokey and burnt.
'The explosion sounded like it was inside the building somewhere.'
Video footage showed thousands of people fleeing in tears from the venue, many covered in blood, after concert finished.
Abby Mullen from Airdrie, who was at the event said: 'As we were leaving a bomb or explosion went off centimetres in front of me. People's skin and faeces where everywhere including in my hair and on my bag.
'I'm still finding bits of God knows what in my hair. You never ever expect these things to happen to you but this proves it can happen to anybody.
'That sound, the blood and those who were running around clueless with body parts and bits of skin missing will not be leaving my mind any time soon or the minds of those involved.'
Chris Parker, 33, was heading towards the box office when he heard an explosion.
He told The Sun: 'There was nuts and bolts flying everywhere, and also human flesh. It was just one bang and a white flash.
'I treated a woman called Pauline. I've got blood on my hands. It was like a war zone inside where the box office is.'
Gary Walker told the Daily Star: 'The nuts must have been packed in the device that's exploded - there's nowhere else they could've come from.'
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This picture shows the layout of Manchester Arena - the explosion happened in the foyer area leading to the railway station
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This distressing picture shows the inside of the arena after the suicide attack at the Ariana Grande concert
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A woman spotted being helped by emergency services following the suspected terror attack in Manchester
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A man with a bandage on his head exits the arena after the terror attack inside the Manchester Arena
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A young girl is helped by police after the horrific incident inside the teen concert this evening
'Suddenly everybody started screaming and running for the exit.
'We could hear the police and ambulance sirens. It was terrifying.
'There were thousands of people trying to get out at once. They were all screaming and crying. The whole place smelt smokey and burnt.
'The explosion sounded like it was inside the building somewhere.'
Video footage showed thousands of people fleeing in tears from the venue, many covered in blood, after concert finished.
Abby Mullen from Airdrie, who was at the event said: 'As we were leaving a bomb or explosion went off centimetres in front of me. People's skin and faeces where everywhere including in my hair and on my bag.
'I'm still finding bits of God knows what in my hair. You never ever expect these things to happen to you but this proves it can happen to anybody.
'That sound, the blood and those who were running around clueless with body parts and bits of skin missing will not be leaving my mind any time soon or the minds of those involved.'
Chris Parker, 33, was heading towards the box office when he heard an explosion.
He told The Sun: 'There was nuts and bolts flying everywhere, and also human flesh. It was just one bang and a white flash.
'I treated a woman called Pauline. I've got blood on my hands. It was like a war zone inside where the box office is.'
Gary Walker told the Daily Star: 'The nuts must have been packed in the device that's exploded - there's nowhere else they could've come from.'
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This picture shows the layout of Manchester Arena - the explosion happened in the foyer area leading to the railway station
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This distressing picture shows the inside of the arena after the suicide attack at the Ariana Grande concert
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A woman spotted being helped by emergency services following the suspected terror attack in Manchester
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A man with a bandage on his head exits the arena after the terror attack inside the Manchester Arena
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A young girl is helped by police after the horrific incident inside the teen concert this evening
Manchester's Victoria station, which backs onto the arena, has been evacuated and all trains cancelled.
Greater Manchester Police said: 'Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena.
'There are a number of confirmed fatalities and others injured.
'Please AVOID the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene. Details of a casualty bureau will follow as soon as available.'
Chief constable Ian Hopkins said the injured were being treated at six hospitals.
A North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman tweeted: 'NWAS has taken 59 casualties from the Manchester Arena incident to various hospitals and treated a number of walking wounded on scene.'
A spokesman said the explosion happened within the foyer area of the venue, leading towards Victoria railway station. A bomb disposal unit were also spotted arriving at the scene.
The BBC have said senior counter-terror officials are assembling in London tonight.
Greater Manchester Police said: 'Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena.
'There are a number of confirmed fatalities and others injured.
'Please AVOID the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene. Details of a casualty bureau will follow as soon as available.'
Chief constable Ian Hopkins said the injured were being treated at six hospitals.
A North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman tweeted: 'NWAS has taken 59 casualties from the Manchester Arena incident to various hospitals and treated a number of walking wounded on scene.'
A spokesman said the explosion happened within the foyer area of the venue, leading towards Victoria railway station. A bomb disposal unit were also spotted arriving at the scene.
The BBC have said senior counter-terror officials are assembling in London tonight.
Witnesses last night described the horrific scenes at the end of the concert.
Jonathan Yates, 24, from the Wirral, told MailOnline: 'The concert had finished and the lights came on almost instantly. There was a bang, a weird bang. There were lots of balloons but I thought to myself that can't be a balloon, that's not normal.
'We were sat on the floor level and it came from the higher seats, people were running and screaming. Everyone stopped and I turned to my friend and said 'we need to run'. Everyone was running and screaming and then when we got out it felt a bit more OK.
'I heard five or six bangs that sounded like gunshots. When we got outside people were outside, crying and on their phones.
'You don't think it's something that's going to happen when you go...it was such a nice, fun concert.'
Jonathan Yates, 24, from the Wirral, told MailOnline: 'The concert had finished and the lights came on almost instantly. There was a bang, a weird bang. There were lots of balloons but I thought to myself that can't be a balloon, that's not normal.
'We were sat on the floor level and it came from the higher seats, people were running and screaming. Everyone stopped and I turned to my friend and said 'we need to run'. Everyone was running and screaming and then when we got out it felt a bit more OK.
'I heard five or six bangs that sounded like gunshots. When we got outside people were outside, crying and on their phones.
'You don't think it's something that's going to happen when you go...it was such a nice, fun concert.'
Nick Schurok, 28, from Manchester, told MailOnline: 'Ariana Grande had just finished the concert and the lights came on. Everyone started leaving. I was on the floor and at the back of the arena people started exiting through the tunnels.
'There was a bang in the left tunnel and everyone went to the middle tunnel. Then about two minutes later, there was another bang. The bang was so loud and crowds of people were running. There were lots of children and families there.'
Another witness Jenny Brewster told MailOnline: 'We were exiting the building when it happened. We'd headed towards the main doors as Ariana was performing the last song because we wanted to beat the crowds, but – as we made our way there - a wall of security men blocked it and told us to go the other way.
'Seconds later they shouted 'RUN!' and the explosion happened right behind them. Hundreds of people were running and screaming. Those men saved our lives.'
'There was a bang in the left tunnel and everyone went to the middle tunnel. Then about two minutes later, there was another bang. The bang was so loud and crowds of people were running. There were lots of children and families there.'
Another witness Jenny Brewster told MailOnline: 'We were exiting the building when it happened. We'd headed towards the main doors as Ariana was performing the last song because we wanted to beat the crowds, but – as we made our way there - a wall of security men blocked it and told us to go the other way.
'Seconds later they shouted 'RUN!' and the explosion happened right behind them. Hundreds of people were running and screaming. Those men saved our lives.'
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Armed police carrying assault rifles were quick to arrive at the scene. Police said they are treating the incident as terror-related 'until we know otherwise'
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Armed officers surrounded the venue after the explosion at the end of a performance by US singer Ariana Grande
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People attending the concert by Ariana Grande fled in panic on hearing the noises - some in tears
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Friends consoled one another outside the venue after the suspected terror attack in Manchester tonight
Catherine Macfarlane told Reuters: 'We were making our way out and when we were right by the door there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming.
'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 of the area.'
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 essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit Trinity Way and that was blocked so everyone was just running to any exit they could find as quickly as they could.
'Everyone was in a huge state of panic, calling each other as some had gone to the toilet whilst this had gone off, so it was just extremely disturbing for everyone there.'
Another concert-goer Laura, 22, told MailOnline: 'There was a woman leaning against a car in the car park with her head down, covered in blood and a little girl being lifted away by paramedics. There were quite a few people injured in the car park.'
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Police chat to concert-goers following the horrific attack at Manchester Arena this evening
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A boy accompanied by an adult carries a dog outside the arena, where crowds of police were gathered. Greater Manchester Police said they will be releasing a contact number for missing people as soon as possible
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Armed police spotted outside the gig following reports of an explosion at the venue during the Ariana Grande gig
'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 of the area.'
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 essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit Trinity Way and that was blocked so everyone was just running to any exit they could find as quickly as they could.
'Everyone was in a huge state of panic, calling each other as some had gone to the toilet whilst this had gone off, so it was just extremely disturbing for everyone there.'
Another concert-goer Laura, 22, told MailOnline: 'There was a woman leaning against a car in the car park with her head down, covered in blood and a little girl being lifted away by paramedics. There were quite a few people injured in the car park.'
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Police chat to concert-goers following the horrific attack at Manchester Arena this evening
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A boy accompanied by an adult carries a dog outside the arena, where crowds of police were gathered. Greater Manchester Police said they will be releasing a contact number for missing people as soon as possible
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Armed police spotted outside the gig following reports of an explosion at the venue during the Ariana Grande gig
Her friend, Livvy, 22, added: 'we saw the explosion happen. Bits of it hit me. My first thought was, 'that's a bomb'.
'It was just when we were leaving. We saw a flash of light and smoke.
'We're really shaken up. If we had been there moment earlier we would have been caught up in it rather than seeing it.'
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A woman speaks on her phone as a group of concert goers walk past on the pavement. A police spokesman added that news of a central casualty bureau would be released soon
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A policeman talks to a crowd of concertgoers outside Manchester Arena. Politicians have tweeted messages of support for the victims
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Witnesses described seeing crowds of people outside the concert hall on their phones trying to contact their parents
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Armed police descended on the venue after the terror attack at Manchester Arena tonight
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A woman sits in the street wrapped in a foil blanket after the explosion inside the Manchester Arena tonight
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British Transport Police said in a statement: 'Officers are at Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening.' Pictured: Emergency services in Victoria Railway Station
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Police officers stand in a line on a road near Piccadilly Station. Manchester City FC tweeted: 'It's with great sadness we hear of the terrible events at the Arena. Our hearts go out to all affected and to our city's emergency services'
Oliver Jones, 17, was at the concert with his 19-year-old sister.
He said: 'I was in the toilet and heard a loud bang just after the concert had finished and people had started to leave.
'The bang echoed around the foyer of the arena and people started to run.
'I seen people running and screaming towards one direction and then many were turning around to run back the other way.
'Security was running out as well as the fans and concert goers.
'Reports of blood and people injured.'
He added: 'In so much shock and panic. You see this on the news all the time and never expect it to happen to you. I just had to run and make sure me and my sister were safe.'
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Police shut down the streets around the concert hall in the aftermath of the attack. Here, a group of women walk over a plastic barrier held down by a police officer
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Two women support each other as they walk away from the concert venue. The pink balloon being carried is a reminder of the huge number of children who attended the performance
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This was the view of the street outside Manchester Arena tonight after there were explosions at the Ariana Grande gig
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A bloodied man with a bandage around his head stands outside the venue. He is covered with a foil blanket for warmth
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Medics carry bodies of victims outside the arena. Nurses at nearby Wythenshawe Hospital told patients in A&E to leave it they did not have serious injuries to make way for casualties from the blast
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Manchester City FC also tweeted a tribute: 'It's with great sadness we hear of the terrible events at the Arena. Our hearts go out to all affected and to our city's emergency services.' Pictured: People outside the concert venue text on their phones
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A man wearing a white towel walks next to a police officer. Concertgoers affected by the suspected terror attack have been offered shelter by locals
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The city's mayor, former Labour MP Andy Burnham, tweeted: 'If you are stranded in the area you can... follow #RoomForManchester where hotels and local people of our great city are offering refuge.' Pictured: Emergency services in Manchester Victoria Station
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There were reports that a Holiday Inn hotel near Manchester Arena had taken in '50+ children' who were unaccompanied at the gig. Pictured: Paramedics, watched by police, help casualties
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A lone policeman guards a cordon outside Manchester Victoria Station, which has been closed to trains
Suzy Mitchell, 26, whose flat is opposite the venue, reported a huge bang rocking the neighbourhood.
She told the Press Association: '(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.
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Police were on the scene following the suspected terror attack at the Manchester concert
Jane Pearson, 46, a high school English language mentor from Chadderton, Greater Manchester, had gone to the concert with her daughter, Rachel, 21, as a birthday treat.
She said the arena was packed full of young children.
Mrs Pearson said: 'It's the worst kind of people who could even consider doing something like this and quite frankly those sort of people, they deserve the worst punishment ever.
'I can't imagine what goes in to the heads of these people that want to hurt children? And families who have come together for such a happy occasion. It's disgusting. It's absolutely disgusting.'
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Footage posted online by concert-goers showing fans filing out of the building while an announcer tried to maintain calm
'It was just when we were leaving. We saw a flash of light and smoke.
'We're really shaken up. If we had been there moment earlier we would have been caught up in it rather than seeing it.'
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A woman speaks on her phone as a group of concert goers walk past on the pavement. A police spokesman added that news of a central casualty bureau would be released soon
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A policeman talks to a crowd of concertgoers outside Manchester Arena. Politicians have tweeted messages of support for the victims
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Witnesses described seeing crowds of people outside the concert hall on their phones trying to contact their parents
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Armed police descended on the venue after the terror attack at Manchester Arena tonight
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A woman sits in the street wrapped in a foil blanket after the explosion inside the Manchester Arena tonight
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British Transport Police said in a statement: 'Officers are at Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening.' Pictured: Emergency services in Victoria Railway Station
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Police officers stand in a line on a road near Piccadilly Station. Manchester City FC tweeted: 'It's with great sadness we hear of the terrible events at the Arena. Our hearts go out to all affected and to our city's emergency services'
Oliver Jones, 17, was at the concert with his 19-year-old sister.
He said: 'I was in the toilet and heard a loud bang just after the concert had finished and people had started to leave.
'The bang echoed around the foyer of the arena and people started to run.
'I seen people running and screaming towards one direction and then many were turning around to run back the other way.
'Security was running out as well as the fans and concert goers.
'Reports of blood and people injured.'
He added: 'In so much shock and panic. You see this on the news all the time and never expect it to happen to you. I just had to run and make sure me and my sister were safe.'
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Police shut down the streets around the concert hall in the aftermath of the attack. Here, a group of women walk over a plastic barrier held down by a police officer
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Two women support each other as they walk away from the concert venue. The pink balloon being carried is a reminder of the huge number of children who attended the performance
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This was the view of the street outside Manchester Arena tonight after there were explosions at the Ariana Grande gig
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A bloodied man with a bandage around his head stands outside the venue. He is covered with a foil blanket for warmth
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Medics carry bodies of victims outside the arena. Nurses at nearby Wythenshawe Hospital told patients in A&E to leave it they did not have serious injuries to make way for casualties from the blast
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Manchester City FC also tweeted a tribute: 'It's with great sadness we hear of the terrible events at the Arena. Our hearts go out to all affected and to our city's emergency services.' Pictured: People outside the concert venue text on their phones
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A man wearing a white towel walks next to a police officer. Concertgoers affected by the suspected terror attack have been offered shelter by locals
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The city's mayor, former Labour MP Andy Burnham, tweeted: 'If you are stranded in the area you can... follow #RoomForManchester where hotels and local people of our great city are offering refuge.' Pictured: Emergency services in Manchester Victoria Station
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There were reports that a Holiday Inn hotel near Manchester Arena had taken in '50+ children' who were unaccompanied at the gig. Pictured: Paramedics, watched by police, help casualties
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A lone policeman guards a cordon outside Manchester Victoria Station, which has been closed to trains
Suzy Mitchell, 26, whose flat is opposite the venue, reported a huge bang rocking the neighbourhood.
She told the Press Association: '(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.
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Police were on the scene following the suspected terror attack at the Manchester concert
Jane Pearson, 46, a high school English language mentor from Chadderton, Greater Manchester, had gone to the concert with her daughter, Rachel, 21, as a birthday treat.
She said the arena was packed full of young children.
Mrs Pearson said: 'It's the worst kind of people who could even consider doing something like this and quite frankly those sort of people, they deserve the worst punishment ever.
'I can't imagine what goes in to the heads of these people that want to hurt children? And families who have come together for such a happy occasion. It's disgusting. It's absolutely disgusting.'
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Footage posted online by concert-goers showing fans filing out of the building while an announcer tried to maintain calm
Erin McDougle, 20, from Newcastle said: 'There was a loud bang at the end of the concert. The lights were already on so we knew it wasn't part of the show.
'At first we thought it was a bomb. There was a lot of smoke. People started running out. When we got outside the arena there were dozens of police vans and quite a few ambulances.'
A group of young men from Sheffield said they had seen at least five people covered in blood and others being carried out by bouncers.
'Ariana Grande had just gone behind the curtain and the lights came up when there was this massive bang and a big cloud of smoke. I saw five people with blood all down them,' said one.
Sophie Tedd, 25, from Darlington, said the noise and smoke seemed to come from the tiered seating stage right. 'We were sitting on that side then suddenly there was this big bang in the block next to us,' she said.
'Everyone started screaming and we nearly got trampled on. There was a burning smell.'
A witness inside the venue, who gave only her first name, Ashley, told Sky News: 'After the explosion, the staff in the Arena were telling us to follow the exit and go outside.
'At first we did not think it was serious as we could not see any smoke but when we went outside we could see it was more serious.
'There were loads of police turning up telling people to move away from the site.
'Now there are a few people around still trying to get home - they are stuck because Manchester Station is closed.
'I've not seen so many police in my life.'
Robert Tempkin, 22, from Middlesbrough, told the BBC: 'Everyone was screaming and running, there were coats and people's phones on the floor. People just dropped everything.
'At first we thought it was a bomb. There was a lot of smoke. People started running out. When we got outside the arena there were dozens of police vans and quite a few ambulances.'
A group of young men from Sheffield said they had seen at least five people covered in blood and others being carried out by bouncers.
'Ariana Grande had just gone behind the curtain and the lights came up when there was this massive bang and a big cloud of smoke. I saw five people with blood all down them,' said one.
Sophie Tedd, 25, from Darlington, said the noise and smoke seemed to come from the tiered seating stage right. 'We were sitting on that side then suddenly there was this big bang in the block next to us,' she said.
'Everyone started screaming and we nearly got trampled on. There was a burning smell.'
A witness inside the venue, who gave only her first name, Ashley, told Sky News: 'After the explosion, the staff in the Arena were telling us to follow the exit and go outside.
'At first we did not think it was serious as we could not see any smoke but when we went outside we could see it was more serious.
'There were loads of police turning up telling people to move away from the site.
'Now there are a few people around still trying to get home - they are stuck because Manchester Station is closed.
'I've not seen so many police in my life.'
Robert Tempkin, 22, from Middlesbrough, told the BBC: 'Everyone was screaming and running, there were coats and people's phones on the floor. People just dropped everything.
[h=3]21 YEARS AFTER MASSIVE IRA BOMB BLAST[/h]Nobody was killed but 212 people were injured after a lorry packed with 1.5 tons of explosives was detonated close to Marks & Spencer and the Arndale shopping centre.
The blast caused £700million in damage as the bomb – the biggest detonated on the mainland since the war – destroyed shops and office buildings within a half-mile radius.
Just minutes earlier police had directed shoppers away from the vehicle and a bomb squad was called in but were unable to defuse the device in time.
The IRA had telephoned warnings about 90 minutes before the blast on Corporation Street in the city centre.
In 2015, Pakistani national Abid Naseer was convicted of plotting terror attacks after being extradited to the US from the UK. He had been living in Manchester where he plotted to kill hundreds in a bombing attack at the Arndale shopping complex during the busy Easter weekend.
The blast caused £700million in damage as the bomb – the biggest detonated on the mainland since the war – destroyed shops and office buildings within a half-mile radius.
Just minutes earlier police had directed shoppers away from the vehicle and a bomb squad was called in but were unable to defuse the device in time.
The IRA had telephoned warnings about 90 minutes before the blast on Corporation Street in the city centre.
In 2015, Pakistani national Abid Naseer was convicted of plotting terror attacks after being extradited to the US from the UK. He had been living in Manchester where he plotted to kill hundreds in a bombing attack at the Arndale shopping complex during the busy Easter weekend.
