Manchester Arena: ‘Treating This As A Terrorist Incident’

Nineteen people have been killed and more than 50 injured in an explosion at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena.

Here is what we know so far.

• The arena said the explosion happened outside the venue, as people began streaming from the doors

• Greater Manchester Police were called to the scene at 22:35 BST on Monday and surrounding roads were closed

• The cause is unknown but Prime Minister Theresa May said police were treating it as “an appalling terrorist attack”

• GMP chief constable Ian Hopkins said the force would treat it as terror “until we have further information”

• If confirmed to be a terrorist attack it would be the worst in the UK since 56 people were killed in the London bombings of July 2005

• Unconfirmed reports from two unnamed US officials suggested the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber

• Eyewitnesses reported nuts and bolts strewn around the floor and the smell of explosives

• All national campaigning in the general election has been suspended

• Mrs May will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee at 09:00

• The nearby Victoria railway station was evacuated and all Tuesday trains have been cancelled