Manchester attack: at least 22 killed at Ariana Grande concert

A suicide bomber has killed at least 22 and injured scores more, in an attack on a Manchester concert of US artist Ariana Grande packed with thousands of young people. The bomb went off at about 10.30pm Monday in the Manchester Arena foyer, just after the end of Grande's concert.

On Tuesday morning, Manchester police chief constable Ian Hopkins said police believed the attack was conducted by one man who detonated an improvised explosive device. He died at the scene. It was police's "priority to determine if he was acting alone or part of a network", he said.

“This has been the most horrific incident we have had to face in Greater Manchester and one that we all hoped we would never see,” Mr Hopkins said at a Tuesday morning news conference. “Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives.”

Recent attacks on European soil reveal the development of self-radicalized individuals, as reflected by the Westminster Bridge incident, he explained. These people have chosen to duck below society's radar, got personal issues that lead them to self-alienation as well as a willingness to inflict serious violence, he continued.

"The nature of modern terror attacks in Europe is entirely sporadic in what motivates people to do it."

Police began scanning through the hundreds of CCTV cameras in the area, to piece together the cause of the explosion and identify the attacker. They also appealed for concertgoers to upload images and video

The explosion happened with most concertgoers still inside the venue, when the lights had come up after the American singer had left the stage.

Supporters of the Islamic State on social media had erupted into celebration following the news, said SITE Intelligence Group, a non-governmental counter-terrorism organization.

General election campaigning has been suspended after the terrorist attack. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he had spoken to Prime Minister Theresa May and they had agreed that all national campaigning would be suspended until further notice.