Manchester terror attack: As it happened

Manchester: In the deadliest terror attack in the United Kingdom since the 7/7 bombings of 2005, at least 22 people, including children, were killed and 59 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up as thousands of fans were exiting US star Ariana Grande's pop concert in Manchester on Monday night.

Children and teenagers were among the dead at Manchester Arena -- Europe's largest indoor arena – because of the very young demographic of the pop star's fans.

Police confirmed the attacker died at the arena. They said the male attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device, which he detonated, causing the massive blast. However, they have not yet confirmed the identity of the attacker.

All major political parties suspended their election campaign on Tuesday. 

World leaders have expressed shock and horror at the suicide bombing in Manchester.

Here are the latest updates:

- 23-year-old Manchester terrorist, Salman Abedi, identified as son of Libyan refugees. He was known by British law enforcement.

- British police say they carried out controlled explosion in Fallowfield district to south of the city centre, as part of their investigation into Manchester attack

- G7 leaders meeting in Sicily this week will make a common commitment to fighting terrorism in the wake of the suicide bombing that killed 22 people in Manchester, says Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni

- Intelligence chief says US has not yet verified that the Islamic State group was responsible for the Manchester attack: AFP

- Police officers are seen outside the Manchester Arena, where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing, in Manchester, northern England, Britain

- Queen Elizabeth II condemns Manchester attack as an act of barbarity. "I would like to express my admiration for the way the people of Manchester have responded, with humanity and compassion, to this act of barbarity," she said

-"There has been no report of any Indian casualty in Monday's terror attack in Manchester that killed 22 people," says External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

- Islamic State group says one of its members carried out the Manchester attack that killed 22 people: AFP

- An eight-year-old girl has been named as the youngest fan still missing after the Manchester terror attack

- A major shopping centre in Manchester is now reopening after it was temporarily evacuated, a Reuters witness said on Tuesday. Police had begun removing the cordon and workers were slowly being allowed back into site, he said. 

- The British Police says they have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the terror attack in Manchester. "With regards to the ongoing investigation into last night`s horrific attack at the Manchester Arena, we can confirm we have arrested a 23-year-old man in South Manchester," police said in a statement.

- A shopping centre in Manchester, England, has been evacuated. Witnesses said they heard a "big bang", just hours after a suicide bomber killed 22 people. Scores of people ran away from the centre, a Reuters witness said. 

- After chairing a Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms) meeting in the wake of the blast, the UK PM says that the attacker had shown "cold calculation" by targeting children, adding that police believe they know his identity but are not disclosing it for the moment as the investigation continues.

- The man behind the attack in Manchester aimed to cause "maximum carnage" by detonating his bomb outside one of the exits, British Prime Minister Theresa May says.

- Manchester attack: Flags are flying at half-mast over the Houses of Parliament as a mark of respect. 

- US President Donald Trump extends his condolences to the victims of the Manchester suicide bombing and said those behind the attack were "evil losers". "I extend my deepest condolences to those so terribly injured in this terrorist attack, and to the many killed and the families, so many families of the victims". He adds: "So many young, beautiful innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life."

- Iran condemned the Manchester attack, but in an apparent swipe at Western security cooperation with Gulf Arab states said "artificial alliances" would not eliminate such threats.

- London Mayor Sadiq Khan said there will be more police on the streets of the British capital after the suicide attack in Manchester.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to boost anti-terror cooperation with Britain in a condolence message to Prime Minister Theresa May over the "inhuman" attack in Manchester, the Kremlin said Tuesday. 

- British police reopened London`s Victoria Coach Station and the surrounding streets on Tuesday after earlier closing the area due to a suspect package.

- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday expressed her "sorrow and horror" over the bomb attack in Manchester, vowing that Germany will stand by Britain in the fight against terror.

- French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a telephone call with British Prime Minister Theresa May in the wake of the Manchester attack, Macron`s office said in a statement on Tuesday.

- The British Police closed London`s Victoria Coach Station and the surrounding streets on Tuesday, the BBC reported, after finding a suspect package. 

- The Indian High Commission in London has set up a response unit and activated more helplines to assist any Indian nationals caught up in the Manchester terror attack that claimed 22 lives.

- "The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated causing this atrocity," says Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins.

- "We believe, at this stage, the attack last night was conducted by one man," says Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins. "The priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network." 

- UK Police says 22 people, including some children, were killed in a suicide attack carried out by one man after Ariana Grande concert in Manchester on Monday.

- The US has said it was "closely monitoring" the situation at the Manchester Arena in the UK and working with other countries to obtain information about the incident. "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is closely monitoring the situation at Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom," an official statement said.

- Greater Manchester Police says help and assistance for anyone involved in last night's explosion available at gate 11 of the Etihad Stadium.

- News agency ANI has quoted unconfirmed reports as saying that an unknown Twitter account of a possible Islamic State sympathizer sported a tweet about the Manchester Arena in England, hours before the explosion rocked pop star Ariana Grande`s concert. "#Islamic State #manchesterarena #UK #British ARE YOU FORGET OUR THREAT? THIS IS THE JUST TERROR (sic)" read the tweet @ owys663.

- The blast occurred on the anniversary of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby, who was hacked to death on a London street on May 22, 2013. Rigby`s gruesome murder gained international notoriety when Michael Adebolajo was filmed by passers-by standing in the street with blood-soaked hands trying to justify the attack.

- Theresa May`s ruling Conservative Party, which has a big lead in opinion polls, is preparing to suspend June 08 election campaigning due to the blast. 

- Parents hunted for missing children after the blast. Many turned to social media to seek loved ones. 

- Gurudwaras in Manchester are offering shelter to those affected and stranded by deadly blast.

- Islamic State supporters celebrated on social media on Tuesday after the blast in the north of England. However, the militant Islamist group has not formally claimed responsibility. Twitter accounts affiliated to Islamic State have used hashtags referring to the blast to post celebratory messages, with some users encouraging similar attacks elsewhere.

- US pop star Ariana Grande late Monday said she felt at a loss for words after a suspected terror attack at her concert in the British city of Manchester. "Broken," she wrote in her first reaction on Twitter. "From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don`t have words," she wrote.

- The US Department of Homeland Security said it was closely monitoring the situation in Manchester, England. The department said in a statement it had "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," the statement said.

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday condemned the blast in Manchester in the UK. "Pained by the attack in Manchester. We strongly condemn it. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," he tweeted.

- Notably, Britain is on its second-highest alert level of "severe" meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.

- Two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said that initial signs pointed to a suicide bomber as being responsible for the blast.

- There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

- Meanwhile, Prime Minister Theresa May, in a statement, said: "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."

- A spokesman for Ariana Grande, 23, said the singer was "okay".

- A video posted on Twitter showed fans, many of them young, screaming and running from the venue. Dozens of parents frantically searched for their children, posting photos and pleading for information on social media.

- Police responded to reports of an explosion shortly after 10:35 pm (2135 GMT) at the arena, which has a capacity for 21,000 people, and where the US singer had been performing to an audience that included many children.