Explosions reported in Manchester?

[HoHoHo]

Banana Boy said:

Yep, lots of 'news' and social media etc.

Lots of unsubstantiated speculation, lots of witnesses describing an explosion and panic.

When it's confirmed with actual substantiated evidence that this was a deliberate act of violence then fair enough but right now that isn't the case and any talk of suspects and retaliation is just unhelpful and achieves nothing but perpetuating the cycle of hatred and violence!

Confirmed as a terrorist attack

I really don't know where we go from here.

You can't fight an ideology with followers who are prepared to attack innocent children

[FN2TypeR]

Banana Boy said:

No they're not, that's a single sentence 'Unconfirmed reports from two unnamed US officials suggest the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber'

The BBC should know better than to publish that kind of unsubstantiated speculation!

Incorrect, the local police force have confirmed that a suicide bomber died in the attack.

[p1stonhead]

Worst thing to wake up to those poor people.

fking savages whoever did this.

[Kwackersaki]

Banana Boy said:

Kwackersaki said:

Have you not seen the news this morning???

Yep, lots of 'news' and social media etc.

Lots of unsubstantiated speculation, lots of witnesses describing an explosion and panic.

When it's confirmed with actual substantiated evidence that this was a deliberate act of violence then fair enough but right now that isn't the case and any talk of suspects and retaliation is just unhelpful and achieves nothing but perpetuating the cycle of hatred and violence!

Indeed, lots of witnesses describing nuts and bolts flying around, not what you'd associate with a gas bottle going off. Are you Jeremy Corbyn?

[anonymous-user]

princealbert23 said:

Banana Boy said:

No they're not, that's a single sentence 'Unconfirmed reports from two unnamed US officials suggest the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber'

The BBC should know better than to publish that kind of unsubstantiated speculation!

Please give it up. You are not adding anything of use.

Agreed.

[anonymous-user]

Banana Boy said:

Yep, lots of 'news' and social media etc.

Lots of unsubstantiated speculation, lots of witnesses describing an explosion and panic.

When it's confirmed with actual substantiated evidence that this was a deliberate act of violence then fair enough but right now that isn't the case and any talk of suspects and retaliation is just unhelpful and achieves nothing but perpetuating the cycle of hatred and violence!

The chief constable has confirmed it was a man carrying an IED. They currently can't say if it was a "lone wolf" or part of a group.
The fact it was a bomb was clear from eye witnesses being interviewed from around 2am when I first heard the news in BBC radio.

[FN2TypeR]

Kwackersaki said:

Indeed, lots of witnesses describing nuts and bolts flying around, not what you'd associate with a gas bottle going off. Are you Jeremy Corbyn?

[juice]

Targetting kids..scum.

[panholio]

Surely someone/cctv/a recording smartphone will have got a look at this suicide bomber before they blew up?

[Driller]

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

[Mr Tracy]

Sickening news, condolences to all

[Welshbeef]

Horrible shocking news to wake to this morning.
Targeting children (generally young girls) killing 22.

A night the survivors will never ever forget.

Hearing the stories of goodwil throughout Manchester last night shows absolute solidarity.

[ralphrj]

Driller said:

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

They may not have been inside the arena security area. Some reports say that the explosion was in a covered area between the arena and the train station.

[Challo]

Driller said:

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

Looks like it was the public area of the arena and therefore you dont need to go through security at that point.

[Greendubber]

Driller said:

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

Ever been patted down at a concert?

I've been to loads and never been searched.

[Tycho]

Driller said:

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

It was outside the security zone in a public area. I'd have thought that if it was inside the arena then the death toll would be so much higher, in the hundreds.

fking cowards. Stay strong Manchester.

[FN2TypeR]

Driller said:

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

I'm under the impression that it happened outside the arena - there's stairs up from the Victoria station platforms that open out into a large entrance hall where there's the doors into the arena and a McDonalds, so one gentleman kicking around in that area in a crowd of thousands wouldn't look out of place.

[Zod]

Driller said:

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

It seems likely that the bomber was just waiting around by the exit from he concert floor with the parents.

[Welshbeef]

Suicide bomber confirmed.

[anonymous-user]

Driller said:

If it was a suicide bomber how could he get out of being patted down by security?

Looks like someone waiting near the exit and setting it off as the first rush of people leave the arena.

There is a concourse that is outside the arena but still "inside" as it links the arena and the train station as well as having exits out to the city.