• Explosion after Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena
  • 22 dead, 59 injured, several missing
  • Concertgoers from Bradford among those injured
  • Islamic State has claimed responsibility
  • Bomber dead at the scene, another man in custody
  • General Election campaigning suspended
  • Religious leaders united in condemnation

Concert-goers from Bradford were among those injured in an explosion at a pop concert where 22 people were killed.

Many people from West Yorkshire, including a number of children from Bradford, were among those present as the horrendous incident unfolded at Manchester Arena.

The Islamic State organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack. Police said the bomber died detonating the device but have also arrested a 23-year-old man in Manchester in relation ot the attack.

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After initially saying 19 people had died and 50 were injured in the blast near the arena's foyer, police have this morning revealed the death toll has risen to 22.

And several people are still missing, including Otley mum Wendy Fawell.

Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said they are treating it as a terrorist incident and think the attack was carried out by one person, who died at the scene.

He believes the attacker had a device which he detonated at the scene and officers are now trying to find out if he was acting alone.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Andrew Senior, who was recently elected as councillor for Queensbury, dashed over from Bradford to be re-united outside the arena with his wife Natalie and two daughters, Eve, 14 and Emelia 11, who had been at the concert.

His wife and one daughter were in an ambulance being treated for cuts and bruises.

Emelia was treated for burns, and said: "We ended up leaving early because everyone had gone off the stage. We walked out, we'd gone through the gates to actually go out, suddenly something really hot just flew over us and behind me and my sister and we all dropped to the floor.

"I couldn't really hear anything it was just really scary."

Mr Senior said: "We're the lucky ones. I think they have got a lot more serious things to contend with."

Cllr Senior's mum, Vicky, told the Telegraph & Argus the two girls had got the concert tickets as Christmas presents. 

Bradford woman Jemma Woolley posted a comment on the Telegraph & Argus Facebook page to say: "My sister was there tonight. Luckily her and her friend are safe, just very shook up. My heart goes out to the families."

Another Bradford woman, Jodie Elisha Conway, posted: "My little cousin went, I read the news and instantly panicked. Luckily he made it home about 45 minutes ago, bless him, he's really shaken up."

Stuart Fielding, who studied at Rhodesway School and Bradford College, revealed via Facebook that both his girls were at the concert and added: "My heart was in my mouth when I heard about it."

He posted: "Both my girls went with two cousins. All safe & on way home thank god. Feel so sorry for the ones that didn't make it though."

Also posting on the T&A's Facebook page was Rebecca Reeton, who said: "I was there.  It happened beneath me so lucky to get out as our entrance was blocked with smoke and bodies...terrified home safe now but we are traumatised."

Police have set up an emergency number for those affected by the explosion, or those concerned about friends and relatives. It is 0161 8569400

In a statement released just after 1am, Greater Manchester Police said: "Just before 10.35pm on Monday 22 May 2017, police were called to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena.

"So far 19 people have been confirmed dead, with around 50 others injured.

"This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise."

At about 3am, Greater Manchester Police's chief constable Ian Hopkins, speaking outside the force's headquarters, said the wounded were being treated at six hospitals across Greater Manchester.

He added: "We are currently treating this as terrorist incident until we have further information.

"It is important that people avoid the area around Manchester Arena."

Witnesses reported hearing a "huge bang" at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig last night.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene.

Manchester Arena said the explosion happened "outside the venue in a public space".

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims," it said.

The area around the arena was swamped with police and emergency services. Approach roads have been closed by police.

At 1.32am, a controlled explosion was carried out in nearby Cathedral Gardens on a second suspect item. About 15 minutes later, police said the item was not a device and may have been discarded clothing.

Earlier, witnesses said they heard two loud bangs inside the arena and coming from where the bars are located.

Manchester's Victoria station, which backs onto the arena, has been evacuated and all trains cancelled.

Many had travelled to the concert from Yorkshire, including Jade Baynes, 18, from Hull, who was told to run from the area by armed police after leaving the concert arena.

She said she heard loud bangs and what sounded like gunshots just after the entertainment had finished.

She added: "There were just a loud bang and a flash and everyone tried to scramble out.

"An alarm came on telling everyone to stay calm but leave as quickly as possible."

Jade and her friend Jasmine Mia, 21, also from Hull, said there appeared to be some sort of commotion in the first tier of the arena, with a number of stewards stood around the seats.

An eyewitness called Imran, from Leeds, had travelled to Manchester to pick up his partner and 12-year-old daughter, who attended the concert.

Imran, who was waiting outside the arena when the blast happened, told the BBC: "It's crazy what's going on. Kids are at a concert and some loonatics are doing what they are doing.

"My partner just heard this bang and grabbed my daughter's hand and ran down the steps."

He said his daughter was terrified and said to him: "I just want to get out of Manchester dad."

Imran added: "It just keeps going round in our heads what could have happened."

Another 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 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."

Armed police have now swamped the streets around the arena and police are moving members of the public away from the area.

Goodwill messages have been posted on social media, including from Bradford West's Labour candidate Naz Shah, who tweeted: "Praying for Manchester."

Her thoughts were echoed by Mark Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire.

He said: "Awful news coming in from Manchester Arena. Thoughts and prayers with all those affected and for the emergency services at the scene."

And Bradford East Parliamentary candidate Imran Hussain commented on the news that taxi drivers were volunteering to transport people away from the scene saying: "Manchester is a city that is full of kind and generous people."

Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, said: "Today at least 22 families will wake up to a world in which their own children will have found their life ended young. The loss can only be indescribable. Life will never be the same again; the sense of injustice will not be comprehended.

"The cowardice of the perpetrator is striking. Isn’t it brave and principled to target unwitting children and young people?

"The emergency services, along with ordinary people who responded heroically, represent the best of a society that refuses to regard such events as ‘normal’. It is shocking, a crime and a sin beyond words."

Dr Bryan Gill, Medical Director for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have treated some patients who self-presented at our Emergency Department at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

“Our thoughts are with the people affected by this tragic incident.”