Several fatalities after explosion at Ariana Grande concert

By: Staff –

Ariana Grande performs onstage during her “Dangerous Woman” tour at Madison Square Garden on February 23, 2017 in New York City. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty)

Nineteen people have been killed, and around 50 injured after an explosion at Manchester Arena in the UK this evening, where pop artist Ariana Grande was performing.

In a Facebook post, Greater Manchester Police released the following statement: “Emergency services are currently responding to reports of an explosion at Manchester Arena. There are a number of confirmed fatalities and others injured. Please AVOID the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene. Details of a casualty bureau will follow as soon as available.”

A concertgoer said she felt an explosion as she was leaving the concert.

“We were making our way out and when we were right by the door there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming,” Catherine Macfarlane told Reuters. “It was a huge explosion — you could feel it in your chest. It was chaotic. Everybody was running and screaming and just trying to get out of the area.”

A spokesperson for the singer said: “Ariana is okay. We are further investigating what happened.”

Manchester Arena, the largest indoor arena in Europe, opened in 1995 and has a capacity for 21,000 people, according to its website.

EXPLOSION AT MANCHESTER ARENA AND EVERYONE RAN OUT SO SCARY😭pic.twitter.com/pJbUBoELtE

— ♡♡ (@hannawwh) May 22, 2017