Ariana Grande Manchester Concert Explosion: Shock, Chaos on the Ground During Aftermath

“I believe there was more than one (explosion),” said one mother, who was at the show with her Ariana Grande ‘superfan” daughter. She described the scene as a “mad, chaotic rush to the nearest exit. Lots of people crying and wailing and just, understandably, (it was) really upsetting for everybody concerned" (see video below). One young fan described the experience as “really scary.” 

The explosion happened just after the end of the show, and the location -- the foyer just in front of the arena where attendees were exiting -- is an area outside the arena's main security checkpoints. Manchester Arena is connected to Victoria Train station, the second-biggest train station in the city, with the foyer housing the venue's box office.

Eventually, police moved those outside further from the cordoned-off area and performed two controlled explosions closer to the arena. Authorities set up a special hotline for family members to call for any available information about their loved ones. A woman, distraught, spoke about her granddaughter, who she fears is among the dead. Other parents were overwhelmed with relief to find out their children were okay. 

Throughout the night, local taxi companies have been out on the streets offering people free rides to get them home. Nearby residents have also been offering stranded concert-goers rooms for the night and places to stay. 

Later at a press conference, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins of the Greater Manchester Police confirmed the explosion was being investigated as an act of terror, and that police had identified a suspect.