Political figures in Bradford have been reacting to events in Manchester after a suicide bomb was let off as fans left an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.

READ MORE: Bradford concertgoers among the injured as explosion at Manchester Arena leaves 22 dead

In a joint statement Bradford Council Leader Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Abid Hussain, and Bradford Council Chief Executive, Kersten England, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by last night's terrible incident at Manchester Arena, which is believed to be a terrorist attack.

"We are aware that  a number of people from our district are among the injured and we wish them a swift and full recovery.

"The Union Flag on City Hall has been lowered as a mark of respect, in line with all government buildings across the country.

"The Council will continue to plan and work with all its partners, including West Yorkshire Police, to ensure that the Bradford district remains safe and vigilant in the face of any threat of terrorism."

All campaigning in the General Election has been suspended for the day as a mark of respect for the 22 people who died at the Manchester Arena, and candidates in the district have been united in their condemnation of the attack.

Justice secretary Liz Truss had been due to visit Bradford today, but the visit has been cancelled. 

A hustings for Keighley, which had been organised by the National Union of Teachers, has also been called off.

Bradford West Labour candidate Naz Shah wrote on Facebook: "Not sure how I'm going to tell my daughter when she wakes up, she wanted to go and see Ariana Grande, feeling so numb.
"Thoughts and prayers with families who have lost loved one and our emergency services."

Tanya Graham, Conservative candidate for Bradford South, said: “My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones and to those who were injured.

“Many people here will have stood in that foyer at Manchester Arena waiting for our children to come out smiling after a concert. 

“The sense of loss felt by parents affected last night is unimaginable.  Many of the young concert goers will also be deeply traumatised by what they saw and will require professional support.

“This is a time for us all to show solidarity with the people of Manchester following this heinous attack on their city.

“The terrorists will never, ever win.”

Kris Hopkins, Conservative candidate for Keighley and Ilkley, said: “I share the deep sense of shock and absolute horror felt across the community following the cowardly terrorist attack at Manchester Arena.   My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were lost and with the many other victims who were injured.

“Sadly, Manchester is no stranger to dealing with the ravages of terrorism, most notably following the devastating IRA bomb attack in the city centre almost 21 years ago.

“The vermin behind this attack must be hunted down by all means necessary. They have nothing to offer this world but death, destruction and division. 

“My General Election campaign has been suspended until further notice.

“As a Northern Ireland Office Minister, I will be doing all I can to support ministerial colleagues across Government in dealing with the situation as it develops.”

Conservative MEP Amjad Bashir today called for unity across all communities in the face of the Manchester bomb attack.

Mr Bashir, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and a Bradfordian, said: "This is a shocking and callous attack, deliberately targeting our British way of life.

"Sickeningly, it targeted families, children and teenagers enjoying a fun night out. They could have been the children or grandchildren of any of us.

"If this transpires to have been an act of Islamist terrorism I hope people will understand that murderous barbarism of this kind can find no succour, no crumb of justification in true Islam.

"We must all stand together - uniting within and across communities -  to make it clear these attempts to shake us, divide us and intimidate us will not prevail."

Judith Cummins, Labour candidate for Bradford South, said: "All my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families affected by last night’s awful, cowardly attack at Manchester Arena. It is a desperately sad day.

"This was a despicable act of terrorism that specifically targeted some of the most precious in our society – children and teenagers, young people and families enjoying an evening out together, some of whom never came home."

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