Concertgoers leave the Manchester Arena in northern England where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing in Manchester, Britain, on Monday night. Photo: Reuters
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At least 19 dead, 50 injured by blast at Ariana Grande concert in Manchester

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RIP to the victims. Condolences to their family and friends. My sympathy to all those affected by this hideous, cowardly act. Hats off to the emergency responders and anyone who helped the casualties.

If this is shown to be a terroristic attack, may all those connected in any way at all levels be quickly apprehended and rot in jail for the remainder of their lives.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Manchester will recover; it has before and it will this time, too. UK citizens of all beliefs and persuasions are a solid lot and such attacks (if it is a terrorist one) will not divide them.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

bass4funk Today  11:03 am JST

Nothing confirmed yet by either the police or the British government.

I'm betting 10 to 1 it was an Islamist attack. I'd be very surprised if it was something other than that.

Don't you think it's weird to be so excited about the death of innocents that you immediately want to bet on it?

Sincere condolences to grieving Mancunians.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Regardless, this is awful and my thoughts are with the families of the victims.  

There are so many conflicting reports, not sure what exactly happened.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

How much hate do you have to have in your heart to kill children at a pop concert?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This is so horrific, especially considering the event which probably had a number of younger people or children in the audience. Apparently 19 people have been confirmed dead. Absolutely tragic.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

What lucabrasi said. There's a time and a place for satire. This isn't one of them.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

What a sad day, words fail me. I can't see what this has achieved, killing children at a pop concert? WTF! this has really got to stop, I really want to post some thing on here about what I feel right now, but I know it will be removed. this is doing nothing for the honest hard working Muslims in this country, as we all know its only a small sect of brainwashed nut jobs. its nice to see the taxi drivers are giving free rides home, Iam sure the doctors and nurses are working flat out to help, so I would like to say a big thank you for all of those unsung horrors out there.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

BBC is now reporting 20 deaths. RIP. What a horrible way to die and how tragic for all the kids who will be terrified.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Many Japanese people also live in the UK. I hope they are alright.

That the only response you can think of? What about the people who are not 'alright', do they not matter?

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Different from Paris in that no suicide bombers, no guns, no cars, no drive-by shootings, well, no reports so far.

US intelligence sources actually mentioned the possibility of a (or more than 1) suicide bomber and a few witnesses talked about bolts, nails, screws etc.

Re why Manchester, why Ariana Grande etc I don't think they were targeting AG fans or Manchester ppl specifically. Imo it's all about opportunity i.e if terrorists see a gap and/or window of opportunity at some event they'll exploit it, regardless of who/where/when/how old etc.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I'm betting 10 to 1 it was an Islamist attack. I'd be very surprised if it was something other than that.

Please; I don't think it's an appropriate time to bet on such an horrific incident. As I said ealier - this is not the first time Manchester has been hit by extremists. Irish extremists have targetted the city in the past. But neither they nor any possible Islamic extremists represent the majority of Irish and Muslims in Manchester or the UK.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

What a tragic event! RIP to all the victims.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Different from Paris in that no suicide bombers, no guns, no cars, no drive-by shootings, well, no reports so far.

Every report I'm reading is saying suicide bomber but that's all. Reports of gunmen at hospitals and other places have been confirmed as false.

Tragic and senseless.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

BBC confirms a terrorism investigation. Wow, attacking a bunch of teenagers. The terrorists reach a new low in cowardice.

To All Our British Brothers and Sisters: Hold on. Stay strong. Know that we are thinking of you and praying for you. We Stand Beside You. 

Love You Always--The Yanks

3 ( +6 / -3 )

As for mayor of London, Sadiq Khan - here's the story

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sadiq-khan-london-mayor-terrorism-attacks-part-and-parcel-major-cities-new-york-bombing-a7322846.html

It is part and parcel of living in a big city. And London has suffered from incidents of terror not just in the last few decades but over centuries. Homegrown or otherwise.

And you know what the majority do? They mourn and then they pick themselves up and don't allow division.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Very sad.

I don't envy the job the police forensic unit has now, but they're the only ones who can determine what exactly happened. Hats off to them.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Any type of mass killing is dreadful to experience and I hope that the people of Manchester pull together to cope with this which they seem to be doing.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posters going around.

"I Love Manchester.

The City of Manchester Stands United."  (Clever football word play)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Now there will be major concerns and problems for the general election next month.

It was a bad idea to call the election for a date in Ramadan. There has been one attack on parliament and another foiled attempt.

As for this filth, I feel ashamed to be a member of the same species.

Part of me hopes for that giant asteroid to hit sooner rather than later. I think this place could be better left to the insects.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@zichi

Sorry, I didn't clarify what I meant. I was talking about Jihadi atrocities often spiking during Ramadan.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It doesn't. The perpetrators do not represent the religion. They twist and pervert it.

This is a difficult statement to make. The jihadis argue that they represent the true face of the religion.

On what or whose grounds can you make the statement they are twisting the faith? They often cite verses that support their ideas.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

My heart goes out to all those who have lost people and/or been injured in this horrible act. All these people wanted to do was go out and have fun.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

RIP to all the victims & may the perps be caught soon!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Only lowlife, ignorant and self-centered scumbags would attack innocent people while they're out having a good time with friends and family.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Haaa Nemui, what sites are you looking at?

BBC, RT, CNN, WashingtonPost, NYTimes, MSN

Of course, it says suspected in most reports but it is there. Not sure why you have been downvoted for that comment.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Latest count is 59 taken by ambulances to hospitals.

05:45 UK time

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Shame. The concert was attended by kids/young people. Heartless and cowardly attack by shameless perpetrators. We will know soon enough but most likely terrorism. Regardless, this is awful and as a parent I can only imagine what some of the parents with kids attending are going through.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

BBC confirmed at 07:00 UK time.

22 Dead

59 wounded.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

According to the Guardian, the police know the identity of the suicide bomber.

What often follows is a statement along the lines of him having being known to the security services.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Islam will never co-exist peacefully with you

"Islam" is too broad a term. That's like a woman saying "men will never co-exist peacefully with us". Sure, there will never be a time in which no man will ever act violently towards women, but men already for the most part co-exist peacefully with women, In that same vein, there will probably never be a time when some Muslims won't act violently towards people of other religions, but we already for the most part co-exist peacefully with Muslims.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

People in the UK won't need reminding that a prime objective of ISIS is polarising populations and that the vast majority of their victims are muslims. People not in the UK may well need reminding.

And meanwhile, shockingly; the miscreants continue to blur, obfuscate and put up downright lies online

https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/manchester-arena-fake-news?utm_term=.tj7xGBKjv#.mrP0le5ON

and

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-40010376

stomach churning. It seems horror like this attack really brings out the ne'er do wells.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Seems similar to the Paris concert, with the explosions and some reports of gunfire. Too early to tell, though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No point in going out to large crowded places anymore.

When people come to that conclusion, terrorists win.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sadly, it looks like another radical Islamist struck once again. Looks like a possible suicide bomber.

Nothing confirmed yet by either the police or the British government.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The problem of detection is a major one as the bomber could explode the device any where in the building even when being checked.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Haaa Nemui, what sites are you looking at?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

My hope is that each and every one of them is found and put to an end.

Which will make them (whoever they are) martyrs to their cause & inspire more chaos. And so, the cycle continues. Give them life without parole to contemplate the cowardly nature of their appaling actions.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Well, IS supoorters are tweeting their joy and hopes that this was an IS attack.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2017/05/23/ISIS-supporters-celebrate-Manchester-attack-online-no-official-claim.html

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Which will make them (whoever they are) martyrs to their cause & inspire more chaos. And so, the cycle continues.

So I am wrong for hoping all terrorists are caught and put to an end?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If there is a heaven.

Last night's victims will all be in heaven, except for one among them who will be surprised to find him/herself in another place.

This kind of action is based on prejudice/discrimination, nothing else, on the idea that I am clean and pure, and superior to everyone else who doesn't follow what I follow. Blind, selfish prejudice.

May all the innocents rest in peace.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Here we go again.

 

1.    This has nothing to do with Islam

It doesn't. The perpetrators do not represent the religion. They twist and pervert it.

2.    The guy was a mentally ill “lone wolf”

That's entirely possible. It's a case of speculating at present.

3.    Those who object to points 1 and 2 are racists and bigots

No, just people who are taking in the situation in a measured way, not ready to start finger pointing or do a Katie Hopkins.

4.    Change facebook profile to flag of inflicted country (Union Jack this week), offer your “thoughts and prayers”

People will react in different ways - there's a lot of hurt, worry and sorrow today.

5.    Light candles, hold vigils, and peace march

Admirable. Isn't it better than lashing out and promoting hate? It's called unity.

6.    Wait like a terrified lamb for the next slaughter

If you know the British, then you'll know that statement is incorrect.

7.    Repeat.

Done. With above annotations.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

1.    This has nothing to do with Islam

2.    The guy was a mentally ill “lone wolf”

3.    Those who object to points 1 and 2 are racists and bigots 

4.    Change facebook profile to flag of inflicted country (Union Jack this week), offer your “thoughts and prayers”

5.    Light candles, hold vigils, and peace march

6.    Wait like a terrified lamb for the next slaughter

7.    Repeat.

Ok. There are some valid points there. I think step one is something which exasperates many and is used to shut down very uncomfortable but necessary discussions about the links between belief and action. The Muslim reformer Majid Nawaz speaks very eloquently about the dangers of doing this.

However, I'd still ask what would you like to see done about the problem of Islamic terrirism? The right are forever virtue signaling on this topic - banging on about getting tough and not putting up with this but offer little or no actual, practical measures.

I'm truly at a loss about what is best to do here.

Anything to offer?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We was bombed by professional in 1940's and they didn't win, nor did they brake our spirit, it only brought us together, and this has been bourn out last night, people from ALL communities were only to willing to help out.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

RIP and hope all recover. I used to live in Leeds, so spent a lot of time in Manchester. Have a couple of friends who have kids there so a little worried.

Just a day after Saudi bought 350 billion dollars of arms. Stay tuned...

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Thanks goldanorak, Yes I saw different reports of nails and bolts. But it could have been a bag placed by the souvenir shop. (?)

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

OK, Sky has picked up rumours of a possible suicide bomber.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Why choose Manchester instead of London, though?

Why choose anywhere? I could care less about the rationale of terrorists. My hope is that each and every one of them is found and put to an end.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@zichi

History has shown time and time again that violence is never defeated by violence...

Apart from the defeat of Nazi Germany and about a million other examples I could cite.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Nothing confirmed yet by either the police or the British government.

I'm betting 10 to 1 it was an Islamist attack. I'd be very surprised if it was something other than that.

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

She was to sing in London later this week. Manchester because of the size of the arena?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Makes me so grateful that we haven't seen this kind of madness here in Japan.  Yet.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Here we go again.

 

1.    This has nothing to do with Islam

2.    The guy was a mentally ill “lone wolf”

3.    Those who object to points 1 and 2 are racists and bigots

4.    Change facebook profile to flag of inflicted country (Union Jack this week), offer your “thoughts and prayers”

5.    Light candles, hold vigils, and peace march

6.    Wait like a terrified lamb for the next slaughter

7.    Repeat.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

I'm wondering now if it could also possibly be a deranged fan.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Here we go again! Sadly, it looks like another radical Islamist struck once again. Looks like a possible suicide bomber.

-6 ( +10 / -16 )

Barbarians are responsible for such atrocities.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Different from Paris in that no suicide bombers, no guns, no cars, no drive-by shootings, well, no reports so far.

Similar to Paris is a concert with a US singer. Why choose Manchester instead of London, though?

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Condolences...

Was that London's Mayor that said people should get used to it?

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

No point in going out to large crowded places anymore.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

This is very sad news. Many Japanese people also live in the UK. I hope they are alright.

-14 ( +4 / -18 )

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