In news out of the UK, police have made an arrest in what British authorities are calling a “barbaric attack” on an Ariana Grande concert. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombing at the Manchester Arena. The attack has left 22 dead and more than 50 people injured. According to the New York Times, “The bomb tore through an entrance hall of the 21,000-seat Manchester Arena at about 10:30 p.m. on Monday as a concert by the American pop star Ariana Grande was ending.”
Police confirmed the arrest of a 23-year-old man southwest of the city center in relation to last night’s incident. In a televised statement, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain said, “We now know that a single terrorist detonated his improvized explosive device near one of the exits of the venue, deliberately choosing the time and place to cause maximum carnage and to kill and injure indiscriminately.”
The terrorist attack is being called “the worst in the history of Manchester and Northern England.” (via New York Times) Following the attack, Ariana shared her thoughts on social media saying, “Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry. I don’t have words.”
broken.
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017
The city mayor shared his thoughts on Twitter:
“After our darkest of nights, Manchester is today waking up to the most difficult of dawns,” the city’s mayor said https://t.co/57Fs2J3ECH
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 23, 2017
This is still a developing story. However, according to CNN, Isis has shared on its Telegram channel that a “soldier of the caliphate” was able to “plant explosive devices” at the arena.
My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Manchester today in the wake of this tragic attack.
