Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday visited several children injured in the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena, meeting patients and staff at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
The royal family published photographs of the queen meeting teenagers Millie Robson and Evie Mills, aged 15 and 14, and 12-year-old Amy Barlow at the hospital.
Several children were among the 22 people who died in Monday’s attack at the end of a concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande, including an eight-year-old girl.
The queen earlier said she was “shocked by the death and injury in Manchester of so many people, adults and children, who had just been enjoying a concert.”
She paid tribute to the emergency staff and expressed “admiration for the way the people of Manchester have responded, with humanity and compassion, to this act of barbarity.”
In another development, the police said the arrests of eight suspects still in custody are “significant” in the investigation of the network behind the Manchester Arena terrorist attack.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said said searches at several addresses in Manchester and other areas have yielded “very important” items assisting the investigation of Monday’s attack, which killed 22 people and injured dozens.
“I want to reassure people that the arrests that we have made are significant, and initial searches of premises have revealed items that we believe are very important to the investigation,” he said.
Hopkins said leaked forensic photographs published by the New York Times overnight had “caused much distress for families that are already suffering terribly with their loss.”
However, he declined to comment on reports that his force has stopped sharing intelligence on the Manchester attack with the U.S.
Sequel to the Manchester suicide bombing on Monday evening that claimed over 22 lives and wounded over 60, Premier league champions, Chelsea cancelled its victory parade scheduled for Sunday saying it was “inappropriate.”
“Everyone associated with Chelsea Football Club offers our heartfelt condolences to those affected by Monday’s terror attack in Manchester,” said a statement on Wednesday.
“Our thoughts go out to all the victims and their families and friends.
“In light of these tragic events we feel it is inappropriate to go ahead with the victory parade in London on Sunday.”
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has condemned “the despicable terrorist attack on innocent people in Manchester, United Kingdom on Monday, May 22, 2017.”
A statement by Laolu Akande, the spokesperson for the acting President, said, “On behalf of the people and Government of Nigeria, Prof Osinbajo expresses heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the government and people of the United Kingdom in this period of grief.”
Describing the attack as a dastardly act and heinous crime, Acting President Osinbajo assured Prime Minister Theresa May that the prayers and thoughts of Nigerians were with the British people as they mourned the victims, many of the them young people.
“Acting President Osinbajo is confident that light of the civilised world will always prevail against the darkness of depravity, and he trusts that Britons and citizens of other nations across the world will continue to show resilience and courage in the wake of such terrorist crimes,” Akande said.
“He prays that God Almighty will comfort the bereaved families and also wishes a speedy recovery for the injured.”
The group said in a statement published on its social media channels that “one of the caliphate’s soldiers placed bombs among the crowds,” and threatened more attacks.
The statement was posted on Telegram, an encrypted app used by many ISIS fighters and supporters to evade security services.
This morning Theresa May said police and security services believed they knew the identify of the lone bomber.
She said had chosen the time and place of his attack to cause “maximum carnage and to kill and injure indiscriminately”.
Speaking outside Downing Street, the PM paid tribute to emergency workers and members of the public who rushed to help the victims.
And she vowed: “The terrorists will never win and our values, our country and our way of life will always prevail.”
The incident is the worst terror attack in the UK since 56 people were killed in the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.
Manchester Arena said the explosion happened outside the 21,000-capacity venue, as Grande’s fans began streaming from the doors.
More than police 400 officers were deployed on the operation last night, while Manchester Victoria station was evacuated and trains cancelled.
The incident is the worst terror attack in the UK since 56 people were killed in the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.
Manchester Arena said the explosion happened outside the 21,000-capacity venue, as Grande’s fans began streaming from the doors.
More than police 400 officers were deployed on the operation last night, while Manchester Victoria station was evacuated and trains cancelled.
At least 19 people were killed and 60 injured in a suspected terror attack at a concert in Manchester on Monday night, making the northern English city the latest western target of attacks that have hit Paris, Stockholm, London and Berlin in the past six months.
Greater Manchester Police said they were treating the explosion that rocked Manchester Arena as a terrorist incident. Amber Rudd, UK home secretary, said the Manchester explosion was a “barbaric attack, deliberately targeting some of the most vulnerable in our society”.
If confirmed as terrorism, the blast would be the worst such incident in the UK since the Islamist suicide bombings on London underground trains and a bus in 2005, which killed 52.
Police said the explosion took place at 10.33pm. People reported a huge bang as they left the arena following a performance by US singer Ariana Grande, whose fan base is predominantly teenage girls.
The attack on a music concert crowd recalled the Paris attacks of November 2015 in which 130 died, many of them slaughtered by three Islamist gunmen at the Bataclan concert hall. After the Manchester blast, friends and family unable to get in touch with their loved ones in the panic and chaos were posting their portraits on social media in a search for information.
Theresa May, the UK prime minister, is expected to chair a meeting of the cabinet emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday (today).
The arena said the explosion took place just outside the core part of the venue “in a public space”. British Transport police said the explosion happened in the foyer near the ticket office.
Ian Hopkins, chief constable of Greater Manchester, held a 3am press conference and urged the public to remain vigilant. “We are continuing to treat this as a terrorist incident,” he said, adding that the force was liaising with intelligence and security services. The North West Ambulance Service said 60 ambulances had attended the incident, and that 59 casualties had been taken to hospital. It said it had also treated a number of walking wounded at the scene.
Theresa May, prime minister, said it appeared to be an “appalling attack”. “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.” She said she would suspend campaigning in the general election on Tuesday.
Greater Manchester Police, the biggest city force in the UK outside London, asked people to steer clear of the area. Hospitals were turning away non-emergency cases. “Please avoid the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene,” a statement said. Many city centre streets were cordoned off and the police presence on the ground was supported by helicopters patrolling above.
The US Department of Homeland Security said it was “closely monitoring” the situation at Manchester Arena in the wake of the incident. “We are working with our foreign counterparts to obtain additional information about the cause of the reported explosion as well as the extent of injuries and fatalities,” the department said in a statement. “At this time, we have no information to indicate a specific credible threat involving music venues in the United States.
However, the public may experience increased security in and around public places and events as officials take additional precautions. We stand ready to assist our friends and allies in the UK in all ways necessary as they investigate and recover from this incident.” Manchester remained on edge through the evening.
At about 1.30am, bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect device near the arena in a small park by the city’s cathedral. It turned out to be abandoned clothing, police said. Train services from Manchester Victoria station, situated below the concert arena, were severely disrupted, with no trains able to leave or arrive.
Britain’s threat level from terrorism is at severe, which means an attack is thought likely. In 1995, a massive IRA bomb exploded in Manchester city centre. Because a warning was given, only one person was injured but several streets were devastated.
A witness named Emma told BBC Radio Manchester that Monday night’s explosion had shattered glass in the foyer. She, her husband and two teenage daughters managed to escape: “There were bodies everywhere. I really don’t know how we survived it.” Rachel, another concertgoer, told the radio station: “Everyone had started leaving and there was a massive explosion. Everyone started screaming.
There was so much panic. You couldn’t get out because there were so many crowds of people.” Catherine Macfarlane told Reuters: “We were making our way out and when we were right by the door there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming. “It was a huge explosion — you could feel it in your chest. It was chaotic. Everybody was running and screaming and just trying to get out.”
Wayne Rooney could be on his way to China next month, with Manchester United ready to sanction a transfer.
A number of teams in the Chinese Super League, are desperate to land the United captain and are offering him big money.
It is believed that any potential deal, would see Rooney overtake Carlos Tevez’s £650,000-a-week earnings, as the world’s highest-paid footballer.
Sunday Mirror Sport reports that the move has been approved by manager Jose Mourinho and the club’s hierarchy.
Although the European transfer window closes on Tuesday, Chinese clubs can keep buying players until February 28. The new Chinese Premier League season starts in March.
Rooney’s departure was on the cards, as soon as he broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s goal-scoring record this month against Stoke City. He has 18 months left on his current £300,000 a-week contract.
But the club is looking to cut their losses, as they prepared to lure Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid this summer.
