Video: Manchester explosion: 19 dead after blast at Ariana Grande concert

On Media Outlook News: Manchester, England At least 19 people are dead and almost 60 injured in a possible terrorist incident Monday night at Manchester Arena, where pop singer Ariana Grande was performing, Greater Manchester Police said.

As concertgoers -- many of them adolescent fans of the singer -- were beginning to leave the arena following Grande's closing set, an explosion rocked the area. Confusion followed as people fled in search of safety, and the sound of wailing sirens soon cut through the smoky air outside the arena.

Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins made a public statement early Tuesday local time, saying "We are currently treating this as a terrorist incident" and said the wounded are being treated at six hospitals across the Manchester area.

The incident happened shortly after Grande had left the stage, about 10:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. ET) according to eyewitnesses. Calvin Welsford, an 18-year-old concertgoer, said that he heard a "loud bang" a couple of minutes after Grande's set had finished.

"Ariana was off the stage, she'd finished her set," he told CNN. "I looked around because I heard this big bang, people screaming and crying and flooded towards the stage."

Here's what we know:

19 people dead and almost 60 injured, Greater Manchester Police say
Explosions reported at 10:35 p.m. on Monday, local time
Law enforcement officials say a suicide bombing is the likely reason for the blast. A male at the scene has been identified as the probable attacker
UK Prime Minister Theresa May described the incident as an "appalling terrorist attack"
The incident took place outside the venue in a public space, Manchester Arena says. Venue held 20,000 people, many young fans

Investigators are looking into the possibility of a suicide bombing outside of the arena, according to a Western law enforcement official and a US law enforcement official. A male at the scene in Manchester has been identified as the probable bomber, and a US official said suicide bombing is now considered to be the "likely" reason for the blast.

A US Department of Homeland Security statement said it was "closely monitoring" the situation and added that the Department has "no information to indicate a 'specific credible threat involving music venues in the United States.'"

The city's Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) Hospital was blocked off to all but essential staff due to what the facility called a major incident. The North West Ambulance service confirmed that 59 casualties taken to hospitals, and other walking wounded were treated at the scene.

Grande, who had just finished the first of three scheduled UK performances when the blast hit, was not injured. She tweeted several hours later: "broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words."

After the initial incident, police carried out a precautionary controlled explosion nearby but the item turned out to be discarded clothing, not a "suspicious item," Greater Manchester Police said.

Earlier police had warned people to stay away from Manchester Arena after reports of two loud explosions. The crowd was made up of mainly younger people who had come to see Grande in her first of three scheduled concerts in the UK, on her European and Latin American tour.

Hotels opened their doors to people who could not get home due to an area lockdown. A nearby Holiday Inn hotel became a focal point for parents searching for their children who had been at the concert.

Taxis and local people offered free rides to those affected.

Ivo Delgado, a witness, told CNN he heard one explosion after the concert ended. He said there was smoke in a main corridor outside the arena seating and stage area as he and others were heading out of the building.

"It was a really big explosion. Everybody started screaming and running," he said.

Delgado said: "There were people on the floor ... There was a lot of confusion."

Simran Rayarel, 16, was in the VIP area when she heard the blast. "I heard the bang (and) everyone froze. Then madness broke out," she said.

"I saw everyone running, I fell onto the seats on the floor my friend lifted me up."

Social media posts from the scene showed panicked concertgoers running down the arena's stairs in an attempt to get away.

Eyewitness Karen Ford had taken her 13-year-old daughter to the concert.

"It was mayhem on the street, there were children crying, trying to get in touch with parents, parents on their phones trying to contact their kids," she said, adding that cell connection was poor as so many people were using their phones simultaneously.

"I brought my baby home, which some people won't be (able to do) tonight."

Video from near the scene showed a caravan of ambulances heading to the arena.

Reactions

Universal Music Group, parent company for Grande's record label,

Republic Records, posted a statement on Facebook.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of tonight's devastating event in Manchester. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy," the post says.

Grande's publicist, Joseph Carozza, confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that the performer was safe.

"Ariana is OK. We are further investigating what happened," he said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May issued a statement, confirming that police are treating the incident as a terror attack. She has suspended campaigning for June 7 general election and will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday morning.

"We are working to establish the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack. All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected."

The leader of Britain's Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, offered support on Twitter. "Terrible incident in Manchester. My thoughts are with all those affected and our brilliant emergency services."

Musicians such as Ed Sheeran, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry all offered supportive tweets.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included a tweet that was incorrectly attributed to singer Nicki Minaj. It has been removed and replaced with the correct tweet.