***UPDATED** : 19 people have been confirmed killed with over 50 people injured after what police described as a “serious incident” at Manchester Arena, the site of an Ariana Grande concert.

 

Late Monday night. reports began surfacing on Twitter that there was an explosion at Manchester Arena, in Manchester, England which was the site of the Ariana Grande concert.

 

Police work at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England Monday, May 22, 2017. Several people have died following reports of an explosion Monday night at an Ariana Grande concert in northern England, police said. A representative said the singer was not injured. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Police work at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England Monday, May 22, 2017. Several people have died following reports of an explosion Monday night at an Ariana Grande concert in northern England, police said. A representative said the singer was not injured. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

 

 

Armed police gather at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England Monday, May 22, 2017. Several people have died following reports of an explosion Monday night at an Ariana Grande concert in northern England, police said. A representative said the singer was not injured. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Armed police gather at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England Monday, May 22, 2017. Several people have died following reports of an explosion Monday night at an Ariana Grande concert in northern England, police said. A representative said the singer was not injured. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

 

 

Emergency services work at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England, Monday, May 22, 2017. Several people have died following reports of an explosion Monday night at an Ariana Grande concert in northern England, police said. A representative said the singer was not injured. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Emergency services work at Manchester Arena after reports of an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England, Monday, May 22, 2017. Several people have died following reports of an explosion Monday night at an Ariana Grande concert in northern England, police said. A representative said the singer was not injured. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

 

 

Concertgoers began tweeting that a loud sound was heard and people began fleeing because it sounded like “two explosions.”

 

 

https://twitter.com/nieuwsblog/status/866790254191226881

 

The official Twitter account for the Manchester Arena confirmed that the incident took place OUTSIDE of the venue in a public space…

 

 

Greater Manchester Police issued the following statement on Twitter,

 

 

They also said, “Details of a casualty bureau for incident at Manchester Arena will be shared as soon as available. Please stay away from the area.”

Multiple eye witnesses have spoken to the UK’s The Guardian about what they had heard or seen.

One person, identified as ‘Tyler’ said, “We’ve had a few people in with panic attacks and in all kinds of disarray. We’ve got four girls here – trying to get them sorted to get picked up. There was a gentleman on the floor with his leg all bleeding and woman with blood down one side of her face. We felt something but didn’t know what it was – there was a sound like thunder. One girl had a panic attack and another had streaming tears, a woman had a heart attack just outside.”

Another person said, “There were just a loud bang and a flash and everyone tried to scramble out. An alarm came on telling everyone to stay calm but leave as quickly as possible.”

Ariana’s opening act BIA, took to Twitter to let fans know that they were all okay…

 

https://twitter.com/PericoPrincess/status/866780561653760001

Ariana’s rep later confirmed the same to E! News, “Ariana is okay. We are further investigating what happened.”

Celebrities quickly took to Twitter to express their shock, concern and offer prayers to those affected.

 

https://twitter.com/TheChainsmokers/status/866817598138204160

https://twitter.com/elliegoulding/status/866795971828699137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fcrime%2Fariana-grande-manchester-concert-explosion-celebrities-react%2F

 

TMZ also has some pictures from the scene that I will warn you are very graphic. You can check that out HERE.

Also more from The Guardian HERE.

We will update you as soon as we learn more…

Filed under: ariana-grande, england