22 dead 59 people injured in suicide bomb attack on Manchester Arena

The death toll in the Manchester Arena attack has risen to 22 with  a further 59 people injured.

It’s been  confirmed that children are among the fatalities in the incident which was the result of a suicide bomber who triggered the explosion in the foyer of the Arena as the Ariana Grande concert came to an end.

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The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins said it was the worse incident they had ever had to deal with in the Greater Manchester area.

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He refused to speculate on the nationality of the bomber but said it is likely he was operating his own.

The incident happened at 10.30pm as fans were leaving the concert. The injured are being treated at six hospitals in the Greater Manchester.  Some of them are said to have serious injuries.

There are still people unaccounted for with families taking to social media and broadcasters to appeal for information.

During the night mustering points were set up to give places of safety for children who became separated from their families during last nights.

The Holiday Inn in Manchester at one point had about 50 children staying there amid warnings for youngsters to go to the hotel rather than take taxis or offers of rooms.

The area around the Arena was gridlocked soon after the explosions were heard.  There were no trams stopping at the stadium and lines out of Victoria were blocked.

In the ensuing  panic families were separated and people stranded. Immediately hundreds of people were offering rooms for the night those unable to get out of the city.

A special helpline has been set up for those wanting information about people who are still unaccounted for and it is 0161 856 9400.

*Metrolink service have obviously been affected by the incident ands trams will not be stopping at Victoria.  And services will operate from Altrincham to Etihad Campus on a 12 minute frequency.