Manchester Concert Attack BBC News Special

We're in Manchester, where the the worst terror attack

Britain has seen in 12 years took place last night

at the end of a pop concert at the Manchester Arena.

22 people are known to have died and 59 people were injured,

some of them very seriously, when a suicide bomber

detonated a device as people were leaving the concert.

Many of those who'd come to see Ariana Grande in concert

Among those who were killed was an eight year-old girl,

Saffie Rose Roussos, from Leyland in Lancashire.

Also killed was Georgina Callander, an 18-year-old student

59 people have been injured and they are currently being treated

in a number of hospitals across the city.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police were called to the arena

The explosion happened in the arena's foyer

as people began streaming through the doors

Police said the male attacker, who died in the blast, detonated

Officers have carried out a number of armed raids

and a 23-year-old man has been arrested.

Our first report this evening comes from Richard Galpin.

talk to the Bishop of Manchester in the coming 30 minutes.

This report contains scenes you might find distressing.

Oh, my God. What's going on? What had been a night of joy and elation

for thousands of teenagers... Oh, my God! Turns absolute panic.

Everyone's heard what they think is a bomb going off. And the only thing

now is to get out of this arena as fast as possible. It was shocking.

Just heard this massive bang and then everyone started running

towards us screaming and crying. Everyone trampled all over us to get

out. I have seen parents with kids running out with blood all over

them. I picked this lady who said she was looking for the grandkids.

She couldn't find them. We picked up a young girl of the floor was

covered in blood with her parents next to them. It was bizarre. There

is glass and there are nuts, metal nuts that have been packed in the

device that has exploded. I can't think of anything else that's got

nuts that would be flying around. Which way? Traumatised and uncertain

what to do, many of the youngsters just keep running. Some searching

for their parents have been waiting to pick them up at the end of the

concert. Others looking for relatives and friends who have gone

missing. And today, some families are still trying to find their

children, having heard nothing from them since last night's concert.

There are children amongst the many casualties. All the major hospitals

in Manchester being used last night to receive the injured and the dead.

The police have confirmed that it was a terrorist attack, apparently

being carried out by a suicide bomber. This has been the most

horrific incident we have ever faced here in Greater Manchester, and one

that we all hoped we would never see. Families and many young people

were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have sadly lost

their lives. We believe at this stage, the attack last night was

conducted by one man. The priority is to establish whether he was

acting alone or as part of a network. The attacker, I can

confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an

improvised explosive device which he detonated, causing this atrocity.

The police investigation has moved quickly to date, with raids in South

Manchester including one where a controlled explosion was carried

out. And earlier, a 23-year-old man was arrested in the city in

connection with the attack. In Downing Street, flags are flying at

half-mast in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in Britain

since the suicide bombings on London transport 12 years ago. All acts of

terrorism are cowardly attacks on innocent people. But this attack

stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice, deliberately

targeting innocent, defenceless children and young people who should

have been enjoying one of the most memorable nights of their lives.

This afternoon, the Prime Minister travel to Manchester to meet top

police officers and visit a children's hospital where many of

the injured have been treated. I would like to thank all those

involved, the police and other emergency services, for the amazing

way they responded to this terrible incident. I've just been hearing of

police officers who were off duty turning up, wanting to ensure that

they could contribute and help. So many people have helped. That's the

great spirit of Manchester, the spirit of Britain. I am clear that

the terrorists will not prevail. I had of a garden party at Buckingham

Palace, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh observed a minute's

silence. Earlier in a statement, she said the whole nation had been

shocked by the death and injury so many people. But the horror of what

happened at the arena last night led to many ordinary people offering to

help. Taxi drivers providing free lifts for those who couldn't get

back home, others offering rooms for anyone needing somewhere to sleep.

Meanwhile, some of the victims have now been named, including, on the

left, 18-year-old Georgina Callander, and Saffie Roussos, who

was only eight. The children at the concert would never have imagined

that they would end up like this, having to escape a terrorist attack.

But it's clear that they were deliberately targeted, and that has

provoked both shock and revulsion in this country and around the world.

With me is the mayor of Greater Manchester, newly elected, Andy

Burnham. We are thinking about everyone affected today. Yes, we

are. This is a city pretty numb right now, raw with grief. But going

about its business, and that is the Mancunian spirit. People don't give

in or back down to terror of this kind. As they did 20 years ago after

the IRA bomb, people are out again tonight and that is the true spirit

of Greater Manchester. What are the city's police force and other

agencies telling you as mayor today? What is the latest you can share

with our viewers? There is a limit to what I can say because the police

investigation is ongoing. However, I would say that this was an act of

extremism. It doesn't represent any religion. It doesn't represent any

community and it certainly doesn't represent Greater Manchester. The

spirit of Greater Manchester was those people throwing their doors

open last night at that moment of maximum panic, welcoming people in,

driving people away from danger. That is the spirit of this place.

And that was the best response to what happened. You have spoken to

lots of the city's people today. What is the message they have been

giving you? And what have you said to them? I was walking past the town

hall a moment ago and someone said, don't let them divide us, don't let

the hate come in. People feel that very strongly. Of course, we are all

grieving today. But we are strong. We will back the police 100% in

finding who was responsible for this, and we will support them. At

the same time, we won't let this act of extremism divide us one from

another. There are those who will like to make it all the

responsibility of the Muslim community. Well, I'm afraid that is

wrong. This is an extremist act and the person who did it no more

represent the Muslim community than the person who killed Jo Cox

represents the white Christian community. It's an act of extremism

and people need to remember that. He said there is a limit to what you

can say, but we were reporting earlier, based on the Prime

Minister's remarks, that police have a good idea of who they think is

responsible. Is that your understanding? They obviously have a

name, but they haven't confirmed it yet. So it would not be proper for

me to say any more. But there will be further announcements in due

course. They have been magnificent. Hundreds of police officers,

ambulance staff and firefighters were out in the city centre when the

rest of the world was probably asleep last night. They saw

unimaginable scenes in terms of sheer horror. They are an

inspiration to all of us and we thank them today. Give us a sense of

the time to support that has been extended by the city to the people

affected. All atrocities of this kind are terrible. There was another

dimension last night because there were so many young people and

children in the audience for this concert. What kind of support are

you able to offer families and everyone who has been affected? The

City Council here have been working hard today. There has been a family

contact centre set up at the Etihad Stadium. We are working with hotel

companies who are currently making rooms available for people. We are

conscious that some of the people who are trapped in the city maybe

don't live here, so they have some expenses. So we are doing our best

to help people through these difficult times. We will raise a

fund to support people. We will do everything we can. You made the

point very clearly about Manchester today, people making a big effort to

go around and try to lead as normal a life as is possible in these

circumstances. What can you tell us about the ongoing security operation

in the city and what is your message to the people of the city today in

terms of the operation going on to make sure things are as safe as they

can be? I know, because I have seen it for myself, people have worked

flat out over the last 24 hours to return the city to a form of

normality to make it safe. They couldn't have done more. Already,

there are major developments here that make sure that if there was

more than one individual responsible, we will find them.

People should be reassured that the emergency services and the police

have done everything possible. We have had excellent support today

from the Prime Minister, from the government. I would say to people to

have a look at Albert Square in front of the town hall as all walks

of life come together. That is the true face of Greater Manchester and

that spirit will not be beaten by what happened last night. Thank you

so much for talking to us today. I know the vigil is happening soon

just beyond the town hall, which is behind us. Good of you to join us.

It's a pleasure. Well, not a pleasure, it is a difficult day, but

it's important to be here to thank people. We have had messages of

support from all over the country. I have been inundated with messages

from mayors in other cities around the world. The solidarity means a

great deal to us. Thank you to everybody who has made contact. That

was the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. We are in the heart of

the city. Manchester Town Hall is just behind me. The arena where the

concert took place last night is a short distance away and it is

surrounded by an extensive security cordon. Let's join my colleague Ben

Brown, who is there with the latest. We are just at the edge of that

cordon, and there is the Manchester Arena. Very quiet tonight, bathed in

evening sunshine. You can just perhaps see the steps leading out

the arena. That is where there were scenes of panic last night after

that bomb went off. The suicide bomber detonated his device and

people than for their lives. There were a lot of young people, not only

students and teenagers, but some of them were primary school age as

well. They had been dropped there by their families and after they ran,

many were put up in hotels overnight. They were effectively

separated from their friends and family and were looked after by

hotel staff. All through the day, we have been hearing eyewitness

accounts of what happened in there at 10:30pm last night as the concert

had ended. The explosion went off. People have been telling us they saw

nuts and bolts flying through the air. A huge flash, a thunderous

explosion and these pieces of shrapnel that were clearly designed

to cause maximum damage to the people who were there. 22 people

killed, 59 injured. Some of the injured were treated at Manchester

Victoria Railway Station, just adjoining the arena. Railway staff

trained in first aid gave triage and rudimentary for stage -- first aid

to the casualties. They saw terrible things before those casualties were

then taken to eight hospitals around the city. The 59 injured were

treated in those hospitals and some have life-threatening injuries. Ben

Brown, thanks very much. I mentioned that we are at the sight of

Manchester Town Hall. This was the scene a short while ago. The Prime

Minister visited Manchester Town Hall earlier to sign the book of

condolence that has been established. She came to Manchester,

having chaired the meeting of the Cabinet emergency committee Cobra in

Downing Street this morning before making her way to Manchester, where

she met police leaders and leaders of the emergency services, wanted to

thank them. She then made her way to the town hall in Manchester to sign

the book of condolence. I mentioned the vigil which is taking place at

six o'clock. The mayor was talking about that, a vigil being held to

show respect and solidarity. It is due to start in 45 minutes in the

city's Albert Square. My colleague Danny Savidge is there to do tell us

how the preparations for that are coming along. We are still 45

minutes away from this vigil beginning outside the city town

hall. It is already filling up with lots of people. There are lots of

people with posters with "I love Manchester" written on them. Lots of

people are in shock about what happened last month. Let's talk to

Katrina. She is 16 and was at the concert last night. She is a super

fan when it comes to Ariana Grande. Where were you and what happened? It

was the end of the concept and I was on the third row down from the

stage. As soon as the lights came up after the concert, there was like a

bomb sound. Let me interrupt you as we go to Greater Manchester Police.

The Chief Constable is speaking. I am Ian Hopkins, the Chief

Constable of Greater Manchester Police and I would like to give you

an operational update in relation to the ongoing incident in Manchester.

Let me start by once again expressing my sincere condolences to

the families of those that have lost their loved ones in this atrocity.

We now have a team of specifically trained family liaison officers

working with those families and supporting them. There has been much

regulation in the media and on social media as to the names of some

of the victims. Whilst I accept that some of this is an inevitability, I

would ask that people allow us to work with the coroner and to work

with those families and ensure that they are properly supported before

we release the names of those that have sadly lost their lives. As you

would expect, the police response across Greater Manchester has been

significant today as we help people to continue to go about their daily

business and lead their lives. Part of this response has seen us arrest

a 23-year-old man in connection with the attack. We have also carried out

two warrants. One in Fallowfield saw us undertake a controlled explosion

gain entry. I wish to reassure those communities that that was something

we were doing to gain safe access, it is nothing to be concerned about.

We understand that feelings are very raw right now and that people are

bound to be looking for answers. However, more than ever, it is vital

that our diverse communities that make Greater Manchester such a

strong place stand together and support each other, as we will be

doing in the vigil at six p.m.. We will therefore not tolerate hate

towards any parts of our community and should communities be suffering

from hate incidents or crime, I would urge them to report it to us.

This afternoon, we were visited by the Home Secretary Amber Rudd and

the Prime Minister Theresa May, both of whom were given a briefing about

our operations and the investigation over today and the next few days. I

can confirm that the man suspected of carrying out last night's

atrocity is a 22-year-old. He has not yet been formally named by the

coroner and I would not wish to therefore comment any further about

him at this stage. Our priority, along with the police

counterterrorist network and our security partners, is to continue to

establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a wider network.

Thank you very much. So, that was Ian Hopkins, the Chief Constable of

Greater Manchester Police, giving us an update on the investigation so

far and confirming what has been reported unofficially in some

quarters that they are naming the suspect as Salman Abedi, aged 22. No

more details given by the police, saying they want to make sure they

have all the context correct before saying anything else. But they are

naming the suspect as Salman Abedi. There are also confirming that they

arrested a 23-year-old man earlier today in south Manchester and they

gave details of two operations which also took place in parts of the city

including a controlled explosion in one part of the city at lunchtime

today. The Chief Constable gave a very strong message there, appealing

for people across Greater Manchester, the entire region, to

show respect and tolerance and to show understanding and support. A

very strong message underlining what he said was the special nature of

this diversity. I am pleased to say that the Bishop of Manchester joins

me now, the right Reverend David Walker. That was an important

message for the Chief Constable to deliver. It is indeed. On lesser

occasions, we have had to stand together. This is the most serious

event to happen in Manchester to happen for many a year and again, we

will stand together. I have been touched by the messages of support I

have received from Greater Manchester and further afield. We

will stand together and show that terror never wins. The mayor earlier

was also underlining the fact that this was a matter of extremism, not

a matter of any individual faith. Absolutely. We have seen time and

time again the people who commit these atrocities don't represent the

faith communities that they claim to come from. If you look at their past

lives, they have shown little of the kind of piety or good works that

those religions uphold. They are abhorrent members of what the

community and nobody needs to be tarred with their brush. What is the

church able to do today in a city like Manchester affected so deeply?

The churches have been open for prayer today across Manchester and

beyond. In that, we have been encouraging people to come and be

there with their thoughts and prayers, whatever their concerns

are. Our prayers are firstly with the victims and survivors. Bearing

in mind how Lee Janzen a lot of the audience were, we know there are

people who will bear physical and mental scars for decades -- bearing

in mind how young a lot of the audience were. We will always be

here to support those who have suffered today, long after the media

have moved on to another atrocity in another place. These people have

lives to lead and we will help them. Given your position as the Bishop of

Manchester, how would you describe the city today? It is very

resilient. First thing this morning, I was in the city. It was very

subdued. But it is a resilient city. We have seen people holding hands or

walking arm in arm more than normal, but they are still here. A few

minutes ago, I heard applause coming from below as somebody must have

said something which was recognised by the crowd. That is the spirit

that sees us through, as it did when we had a bomb 21 years ago. Good of

you to join us. You're watching BBC News and our coverage from

Manchester continues. Yes, we are outside the Manchester Arena, where

the police are now saying that a 22-year-old man, Salman Abedi, was

the suicide bomber who last night at 10:30pm after that concert,

detonated his device and killed 22 people and injured 59. So we now

have the name. That name has been circulating, but although the police

said they knew the name of the suicide bomber, they didn't want it

released. But they have just released it. The Chief Constable of

Greater Manchester, Ian Hopkins, put it out in the public domain. Let's

go to our affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford, who was listening

as Greater Manchester Police headquarters. Talk us through where

we are now in terms of what we know about the bomb and the

investigation? As you say, the name Salman Abedi has been circulating

for some time but at the request of the police, we haven't rushed to

name him because the police wanted to tie up some lines of their

investigation before the name was out there publicly. We can tell you

that Salman Abedi was born in Manchester on New Year's Eve in

1994. He seems to have at least three brothers and sisters, an elder

brother born in London and a younger brother and sister born in

Manchester. The family are believed to be Libyans originally. Neighbours

talked about them having Libyan flags flying in their house at

certain times of year. They lived at more than one address in Manchester.

So he was born here, they have lived at more than one address. So they

knew the city well. But the police believe he was the man that took an

improvised explosive device into the foyer of the Manchester Arena last

night as the concert was ending, and killed 22 other people as well as

himself, including an eight-year-old girl and several other teenagers.

Daniel, what are the implications of the fact that as you say, the

suspected suicide bomber was born in the UK and born in Manchester? In

some ways, we have become used to that. It is not the first time we

have had British suicide bombers and it is not the first time we have had

British suicide bombers who have chosen to target the UK. So there

aren't major implications. The Libyan connection is interesting,

because of course, there was a strong involvement of British

jihadis from Manchester in Libya at the time that Colonel Gaddafi was

deposed from power in Libya. So that is interesting, but critically at

the moment, what the police need to do is work out where that improvised

explosive device was made and by doing that, find out who made it.

That will tell them whether Salman Abedi was a man who sat alone, built

a device and took it to that concert last night, or was working as part

of a wider conspiracy, a group of people who were plotting this

devastating attack against young people on a night out in Manchester.

For the moment, thank you very much indeed, home affairs correspondent.

That picked up on some of those thoughts with Chris Phillips 's,

former head of national counterterrorism security office.

What we know now about the suspected suicide bomber was that he was a

22-year-old, Salman Abedi, born in 1984, 1994, New Year's Eve. -- Chris

Phillips. The key question, really, was he acting alone, was this

something he did off his own back, as a lone wolf, was it a wider

conspiracy?, what is a hunch? Most likely there are other people

involved, due to the nature of the attack methodology, the amount of

planning and preparation that must have gone in to make a bomb in the

first place but also to deal with the detonators, putting the thing

together, and then delivering it to the location that he wanted to blow

up. That takes a lot of planning, and I think most police would

probably think that some other people were at least involved, to

what depth we don't know. One of the things the police will be trying to

find out is where these explosions have come from and what type of

explosives they are. And we know from the Chief Constable, just

telling us, lots of police activity in and around Manchester, one

arrest, a couple of raids, controlled explosion to gain access.

These early hours after the atrocity was committed are very important to

police. Absolutely and let's not forget, if someone has gone to the

trouble of building a bomb, a suicide vests, there is quite a good

chance that another suicide vests may exist somewhere and if it is

home-made explosives, that is dangerous in itself, police will be

very wary about the enquiries they have to do, the tracking down of any

composite, it is those people will be very dangerous themselves. Just

to put this into context, we know the intelligence services have

foiled quite a number of plots in recent years, and they have always

said that it is inevitable, sooner or later, there will be an attack,

we had the Westminster attack, now a bomb attack in the heart of

Manchester. Due to the number of people involved in terrorism in one

form or another, it is pretty much... It was pretty much

guaranteed that at one stage, one of them was going to get through and

commit a terrorist attack. What we have seen here is a slightly more

developed plan, someone that has gone to a lot more effort to deliver

the explosives and cause such tragedy in Manchester, has really

gone out of their way to do that, not something you can do in a day or

a couple of days, this is something planned over a number of months, and

if only to make these lotions or get hold of the exposes, that is a

difficult thing to do. And it does seem that the attacker was targeting

young people specifically, knowing that star, Ariana Grande, has very

young fans, a lot of girls, teenage girls, some, just at primary school.

Completely disgusting but unfortunately it is quite normal in

the mind of these terrorists to think that young people are

attractive victims. It is hideous. What we have seen in different parts

of the world, Pakistan, where schools have been deliberately

attacked and young people killed in classrooms, to the Bataclan, not

dissimilar to this, slightly older audience, people going about their

business in crowded places are legitimate targets in the eyes of

these terrorists. Chris Phillips, former head of national

counterterrorism security office, thank you very much indeed for your

thoughts. 22 killed here at the Manchester

Arena, 59 injured, they are being treated at eight hospitals in and

around Manchester, one of those is the Manchester Royal Infirmary, we

will go straight there now, Anita McVeigh has been there all day for

us. Nine of the 59 injured are here at the Manchester Royal Infirmary,

one of eight hospitals, as you say, involved in looking after the 59

injured as a result of last night's horrendous attack. We have seen

throughout the day and heard about the huge wave of support for the

emergency services. First of all, we have had all of the off-duty members

of the off emergency services, who have come to volunteer their help

throughout the night and into the morning and the response from the

public who have wanted to back up the doctors nurses, ambulance crews,

all those people working to deal with the injured. With me, health

editor, Hugh Pym, tell us about the response of the emergency medical

services, obviously they have a well rehearsed plan for major incidents

but the reality is something different. That's right, the Chief

Executive of North West Ambulance Service said, nothing can prepare

you for the sadness and shock of a tragedy like this and it is a very

sad day for Manchester. However, I get the sense that there is quiet

contentment that the plan they had in place was put into practice and

delivered, it worked. One source told me, they were expecting

something like this to happen, tragic as though that might seem,

they had prepared for it, so within minutes of the attack taking place,

the regional plan was put into action, it was declared a major

incident, individual hospitals then got in touch, with staff that came

in overnight, and they had all the doctors and nursing staff that they

needed and more that came into work today, and the Berlin service

calling on a total of 300 people including control room staff with

their response. There is a feeling that what was there was the best

they could have offered. -- and the Ambulance Service. I know that at

the other hospitals, is usually appreciative of the public response.

One consultant came out and said, Lee's convey to people in Manchester

how grateful we are, how touched we are, overwhelmed by the generosity,

food coming in all day including a woman in a wheelchair, an elderly

woman, bringing in bottles of water, a supermarket chain has sent in

food, a pizza delivery firm, a catering company has brought in

food, and taking it away again. And they are taking it to another site

in Manchester. They are literary overwhelmed by the generosity of

local people. They would like to thank them. Also people queueing up

to give blood, including the donor centre over there, so they have just

the supplies they needed, at one point they had to declare, they have

what they want, even with Hughes at these centres. -- even with queues.

If they have appointments over the next few days, keep to those

appointments, at giving blood, but they do not need anything over and

above, above registered donors they need anybody with the blood type O

negative, but otherwise stick to those appointments. The staff here

have been incredibly supportive and feeling very grateful for the

support from the public. As they worked tirelessly, professionally,

of course, they have two keep their emotions in check, don't they, but

you can clearly see from medical staff that they are really feeling

this as they work to help the injured and their families.

Leaders from around the world have condemned the attack.

All election campaigning has been suspended today

as a mark of respect, including the postponing

of the Scottish National Party's manifesto, which was due to be

Our Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale reports.

VOICEOVER: Paris and Saint Petersburg, Brussels and Berlin,

London and now Manchester. The threat of terrorism is one which few

nations can avoid and many must face.

Today it was their turn to show solidarity with the people of

Britain. On the latest leg of his tour of the Middle East, President

Trump said something he called the wicked ideology behind terrorism had

to be completely obliterated. So many young beautiful innocent people

living and enjoying their lives, murdered by evil losers in life. I

won't call them monsters, because they would like that term, they

would think that's a great name. I will call them from now on losers!

Because that is what they are, they are losers! The President's

spokesman said he had telephoned Theresa May to express condolences,

the first of many world leaders to make similar calls. The newly

elected president of France, Emmanuel Macron, also spoke to the

Prime Minister and offered her all means of corporation to help Britain

in the fight against terrorism. In Berlin this morning, the union flag

was at half-mast at the British Embassy, and Germany's Chancellor

offered support and sympathy. TRANSLATION: This suspected

terrorist attack will merely strengthened determination to

continue working together with friends in the UK to combat those

who plan and carry out such despicable acts, people in the UK

can rest assured that Germany stands shoulder to shoulder with them. In

Brussels, flags at the European Commission and here at the European

Parliament were also lowered out of respect for the victims. The

president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said on Twitter:

in a telegram to Theresa May, Vladimir Putin offered to step up

Russian counterterrorism cooperation with Britain, and other leaders from

around the world offered their condolences and support. Japan's

Prime Minister said this week's summit of G-7 leaders in Italy would

show determination to stand up to terrorism. The president, of China,

who visited London last year, telephoned the Queen to say that

China stood with Britain at this difficult time, and the Prime

Minister of Australia condemned a vile attack, as he called it,

directed at teenagers. This is an attack on innocents, surely there is

no crime more reprehensible than the murder of children, this is a direct

and brutal attack on young people everywhere, on freedom everywhere.

It was a message that echoed around the world, across social media.

The Prime Minister chaired a meeting of COBRA today, then she came up

here to Manchester, went to one of the hospitals here, thoughts to the

Chief Constable and other police commanders about their

investigation. Let's go to Downing Street now.

Our chief political correspondent Vicki Young is at Downing Street.

Extremely busy day for the Prime Minister, we gather there will be

another meeting of COBRA later on? Very much the practicalities of all

this, she was Home Secretary for several years, this is her area of

expertise, she will be wanting to keep a very close eye on all of

that, whether it is about victims and police investigation, there will

be another meeting, more in the coming days here in Whitehall, and

in Downing Street, not just about the practicalities, when this kind

of horror happens, people do look to the Prime Minister, they look to the

leader of the country to voice what people are feeling, to speak to the

nation, that is what she tried to do today, when she spoke on the steps,

you could hear her anger, but also her defiance, not allowing values to

be torn apart by people, that they would prevail in the end. I also

think trying to give voice to the incomprehension that people are

feeling, this attack seems to be different in the sense that it is

deliberately targeted children, you could certainly tell that was

something she wanted to focus on, she said it was in fact a sickening

cowardice. Also said two people, don't just focus on the scenes of

carnage and the horror that has been seen there, she wants people to

think about the positives as well, response of the emergency services,

the people who did not run away from it but ran to it, members of the

public offering to help. When people may be feeling despair, she is not

the first rigid Prime Minister to have the stand here and respond to

this kind of atrocity but she is trying to say to people, do not

despair, there must be hope as well. General election campaign, in the

middle of it, does not feel like that, campaigning has been

suspended, and probably tomorrow, it is difficult to see how quickly they

will go back to the cut and thrust of that kind of debate, wouldn't

feel appropriate at the moment. The Prime Minister herself will be

abroad at Nato summits and the G-7 in the next few days, but of course,

eventually, people will say, you have to carry on otherwise the

terrorists have won, so they will return at some point to the general

election campaigning. Thank you very much indeed, and at six o'clock

there is going to be a vigil here in the city centre, to remember the

victims of the atrocity at the Manchester Arena.

Manchester is a city trying to pull together after this devastating

attack, as Dan Johnson now reports. Manchester's streets,

busy with shoppers. Some shocked, some

sad but determined. They are proud, too,

of the way people here responded. There is nobody in this world that

will keep us away of coming to the centre of Manchester,

it's vibrancy, it's Metropolitan feeling, it's fantastic,

no amount of evilness will ever, ever dampen any good thought

there is about Manchester. Greater Manchester's new mayor

shared their pride and defiance. I want to thank the

people of Manchester. Even in the minutes

after the attack, They gave the best possible

immediate response to those And it'll be that spirit

of Manchester that will prevail There were so many offers to donate

blood, this morning they had Obviously, with the tragedy that has

happened, if we can help in that So, it would be nice, you know,

to do something to help. I really wanted to come down and see

if I could help at all. An overwhelming response

on social media. I thought I would come down

and try to give blood. Last night, an instinctive reaction

from the city's cab drivers, not to run from danger but to help

others find their families I have just come down to see

if anyone needed a lift home f they were stranded

or lost or anything. As a good citizen, it's

the time where everyone I thought I'd come out

and try to help the people without worry being paying

to get home. This city has felt

destruction before. An IRA bomb exploded at the Arndale

shopping centre in 1996, injuring hundreds of people,

just yards from last night's attack. This post box was about the only

thing that survived. The city centre has been rebuilt

around it, but it is a reminder of the strength and resilience

of the city and it is that same spirit that people

are relying on here today. And this evening, people will come

together in the city centre Tough, gritty resolve

is a natural response here, That vigil is about to start in

Manchester City centre to remember those who died. Tony Lloyd is there,

who was Manchester's Interim Mayor for the past two years, before the

election of Andy Burnham, and former Police and Crime Commissioner for

Greater Manchester. Thank you very much for joining us, what are your

thoughts on how important it is for the city of Manchester to come

together tonight with this vigil, and show it will not be defeated by

terrorism? You can see behind me there are throngs of people coming

out to show their respect to the families of those who died, the

goodwill to those who have been injured, but in the end, the

resolution that says, we are not repaired to be divided by a people

who commit this evil. The murder of children in this city is

devastating, but we will stand together, we will comfort the

parade, we will work with those who have been injured and we will get

through this working together. That is the spirit of Manchester. We were

hearing from the Chief Constable, Ian Hopkins, saying, this is a

multicultural city, it has two stay that way, it has to stand together,

there cannot be any reprisals or any kind of hate crime in the wake of

this atrocity? We pride ourselves on the fact that this is a very diverse

city region, people from literally all over the world make their home

here, we live together as good neighbours. The idea that that

diversity can be challenged by the act of one evil individual, is

unacceptable. We have stood together in the past against those who would

divide us, we will stand together, and that is what you see tonight,

people from all backgrounds, ethnicities and culture, in the city

of Manchester, but across the city region, as the jewels are taking

place. We do stand together and we are not prepared to tolerate those

who will divide us and we will not give them any kind of oxygen. The

love and compassion that was shown last night by the emergency

services, who were brilliant, but also ordinary citizens offering

homes and hotel rooms and taxi rides to those in need, that is what

Greater Manchester is all about, and I am proud of that, it brings out,

sadly, the best in us on an occasion like this. Of course we think of

those who have suffered, that is foremost in our thoughts, sad and

outrageous though that is, but we will stand together. And we are

hearing from the police tonight that the suspected suicide bomber who has

been named was born in Manchester, in 1994, 22 years old. What is your

reaction to that? Again, it is one of enormous sadness that a British

young man should be so deluded by for whatever reasons that he is

prepared to take the innocent lives of children, the innocent lives of

adolescents who went out to enjoy themselves, there can be no joy in

any of this. Save for that little ray of hope that shows that people

in times like this come together and say, we will not accept evil acts as

ways of dividing us, that is the loud message, not simply from

Greater Manchester but from this country. We do stand together

against this kind of evil. Tony Lloyd, former interim air of

Manchester, thank you very much for joining us and for your thoughts.

The Manchester Arena behind me is the second biggest indoor music

venue in Europe, with a capacity of 20 1000. -- 21,000.

The singer Ariana Grande tweeted that she was "broken,

And the group Take That have confirmed they'll

postpone their planned show tonight in Liverpool out of

Our entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson reports

now on the response from the music industry.

VOICEOVER: It was a situation with which any parent could identify.

Dropping your children off at an event they've been looking

forward to for months and coming back to pick them up

They'd come to see Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman Tour but ended up

Members of an audience which became the target of a terrorist attack.

The singer made her name as a children's TV star

and still attracts a very young, predominantly female fan base.

Many in the crowd pre-teens, some as young as seven or eight.

Entertainment stars expressed their horror at the night's event.

It shocks me every time we hear this sort of news,

that attacks like this can happen, but especially when there

will be so many children at this concert tonight.

holding our little ones even tighter this evening.

Last year, Time Magazine named Ariana Grande as one of the 100 most

influential people on the planet, highlighting her 150 million social

media followers and the role it plays in attracting her young fans.

It was with a tweet she communicated after the attack,

From the bottom of my heart, I am so, so, sorry,

Now the world of music is using the same platform

to voice their support, both for her and the

Taylor Swift says she is offering her thoughts and prayers and tears

for all those affected by the Manchester tragedy.

Harry Styles described himself as "heart broken"

A sentiment shared by Katy Perry who says she is broken hearted

for the families and broken hearted for Ariana Grande.

And those stars can picture exactly where the attack took place

because the Manchester Arena is the second-largest indoor

and their world tours all take them there.

were due to play the first of three homecoming gigs in the venue.

Harvey Goldsmith, the promoter behind Live Aid,

has huge implications for the live music market.

The most vulnerable point is on the exit and, therefore,

I presume all the arenas and promoters together will review

how to deal with people leaving concerts but if it's outside

the concert area, the arena itself, where the concert takes place,

if it is on the way out, it is very difficult to do much more

It is believed that Ariana Grande will cancel the remaining

European dates of her tour, which was scheduled

The former child star is now having to deal with the most

Let's talk through more the invitations of what happened here,

we are joined by a professor of political economy at the Manchester

Metropolitan University. This building behind me, the Manchester

Arena, such a soft target, and particularly last night, when we

know that a lot of the people in the audience were very young indeed.

Very true, does not get more soft than that, the person who did the

attack last night, the terrorist attack, knew exactly what they were

doing, determined to die, came to kill himself and kill as many people

as possible with him, and that is precisely what he did, and targeted

very young children, just leaving a concert, looking for their parents

to take them home. Knew exactly what he was doing, prepared very well for

the attack, unfortunately, he caused a lot of pain. Do you think he was

acting alone? Very difficult at this stage to read that conclusion but

from what happened, possible to actually say that he has prepared

for this very well, obviously has prepared explosives, usually, such

attacks are difficult to conduct and organise alone. So I assume he has

links, some kind of links, remains to be seen how big and how close

those links are to the Islamist state in Syria. Islamic State have

claimed responsibility. That was not really mean that they have actually

organise and plan this operation. -- remains to be seen how deep and how

close those links are to Islamic State in Syria. We have to wait and

see what comes out of this operation so far. The police have now named

the suspected suicide bomber, we are hearing, he was born in Manchester.

That is very sad but also expected, this fits very well with the profile

of most terrorists, if we can use that term, very young, second

generation, usually not very educated, they could be but they are

not usually highly educated, they have a troubled life, most of these

guys, they have faced some kind of difficulties, either at school,

finding a job, with their families. What do we know so far about most

terrorists that commit these attacks, this fits that. Does there

need to be more security now add music venues like this one, we are

about to have a sum of music festivals, the FA Cup final coming

up as well. -- summer. Such an operation will have security

implications and there will be more security as a result, but we must

keep in mind, no matter how excellent we are, and this country

has one of the best counterterrorism experts in the world, if someone is

determined to die, it will be very difficult to stop each one of them,

and we need to remember that unfortunately for our excellent

security officers, they need to get it right ten out of ten times, but

the terrorist only needs to get it right one time. Thank you very much

for joining us. Let me show you pictures from the vigil for up in

central Manchester tonight. To remember those who died in the

atrocity at the Manchester Arena last night. 22 people have lost

their lives, the youngest aged only eight, 59 people have been injured,

and are being treated in hospitals in and around Manchester this

evening. As such a sad day in Manchester

draws to a close, we will get the weather forecast.

It is going to get warmer over the next few days, quite warm today, in

the sunshine, 22 degrees, we have seen more cloud across southern

England,