MANCHESTER, UK — Officials said they have identified a probable suicide bomber after an explosion killed at least 22 people and left more than 50 injured at Manchester Arena in England on Monday.
A western law enforcement official told CNN a male at the scene in Manchester has been identified as the probable suicide bomber. A US official said suicide bombing is now considered to be the “likely” reason for the blast.
It appears at this preliminary stage of the investigation that the possible suicide bomber may have detonated as concert goers were leaving the venue following the concert. Officials caution that the situation is very fluid and are that investigators are still trying to gather more information.
On Tuesday, union flags were lowered to half mast in Downing Street following the attack.
In a Facebook post, Greater Manchester Police released the following statement: “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.”
Police are treating it as a terrorist incident until they know otherwise.
"This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise," Manchester police said on Twitter.
"We can confirm there was an incident as people were leaving the Ariana Grande show last night. The incident took place outside the venue in a public space. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims," police said early Tuesday on Twitter.
"Ariana is OK. We are further investigating what happened," said Joseph Carozza, the artist's publicist with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group, in a statement to the L.A. Times.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday following the Manchester explosion which is being treated as an "appalling terrorist attack", according to the Press Association.
After the initial incident, police carried out a precautionary controlled explosion nearby but the item turned out to be discarded clothing, not a "suspicious item," Greater Manchester Police said.
Investigators are looking into the possibility of a suicide bombing outside of the arena, according to a Western law enforcement official and a US law enforcement official.
Earlier police had warned people to stay away from Manchester Arena after reports of two loud explosions. The crowd was made up of mainly younger people who had come to see Grande in her first of three scheduled concerts in the UK, on her European and Latin American tour.
Ivo Delgado, a witness, told CNN he heard one explosion after the concert ended. He said there was smoke in a main corridor outside the arena seating and stage area as he and others were heading out of the building.
"It was a really big explosion. Everybody started screaming and running," he said.
Delgado said: "There were people on the floor ... There was a lot of confusion."
Social media posts from the scene showed panicked concertgoers running down the arena's stairs in an attempt to get away.
British Transport Police told CNN it was in the process of closing some transport in the area.
Video from near the scene showed a caravan of ambulances heading to the arena.
Universal Music Group, parent company for Grande's record label, Republic Records, posted a statement on Facebook.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of tonight's devastating event in Manchester. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy," the post says.
The leader of Britain's Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, offered support on Twitter. "Terrible incident in Manchester. My thoughts are with all those affected and our brilliant emergency services."
Musicians such as Ed Sheeran, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry all offered supportive tweets.
Perry tweeted Monday that she is "Praying for everyone at @ArianaGrande's show."
Facebook has activated it's Safety Check function after the explosion.
In Hartford, Dep. Chief Brian Foley said about additional security, "It's something we would look at. We are constantly reassessing our mass crowd events in an effort to not be a soft target. I'm certain there will be lessons learned out of the U.K. We'll watch and learn. But, nothing should stop our focus- 'If you see something, say something.'"
Check back for further details as they develop.
