22 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a deadly explosion that erupted at the end of Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester earlier today.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has since confirmed that no Singaporeans were reportedly affected or injured in the bomb attack so far, and the Singapore High Commission in London will be monitoring the situation closely.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May stated that the incident is being treated as a suspected terrorist attack and considered to be one of the deadliest militant assaults on Britain. Two US officials informed Reuters that a suicide bomber was suspected to have carried out the attack.
As concert attendees were leaving Manchester Arena around 10.30pm local time, a loud explosion was heard in the building, prompting thousands to flee to the exit.
Moment when the bomb detonated at Ariana Grande’s concert in #Manchester Arena pic.twitter.com/ZGfnqcktDp
— Papa (@YahBoyPapa) May 23, 2017
The injured are currently being treated at six hospitals across Greater Manchester, according to a statement by the police. A significant portion of the audience were made up of young fans, including teenagers and pre-teens. Parents have been anxiously posting on social media to search for loved ones as well.
“Singapore strongly condemns the bomb attack at the Manchester Arena on 23 May 2017 that resulted in numerous deaths and injuries of innocent people,” wrote the MFA in a statement.
“We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and wish the injured a swift recovery,” it added, advising Singaporeans in the UK to update their family and friends about their safety.
Grande herself was reportedly “in hysterics”, but is safe, according to her publicist. The 23-year-old pop star was in the city as part of her Dangerous Woman tour, with her next concert scheduled to take place on May 25 at the O2 Arena in London. Insiders who spoke to TMZ noted that the singer was “in no condition to perform” following the incident. Her entire European tour — including other stops in England, Belgium, Poland, Germany and Switzerland — has been suspended for now.
broken.
from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don’t have words.— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 23, 2017
Grande is also scheduled to perform in Singapore as one of the headliners in the Singapore Grand Prix concerts this September, but it’s unclear if she’ll continue her tour.
Expressing sadness over the tragedy, a Singapore GP spokesperson assured that they’ve developed a comprehensive security plan with the Security and Emergency Response committee involving multiple government agencies, led by the Singapore Police Force.
“We will continue to review and assess our security plans and work with all the relevant authorities to implement the necessary security measures for the event,” the spokesperson said.
EDIT: Article updated to reflect statement by Singapore Grand Prix and change in casualty figures.
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