Concert suicide bomber is named as ‘Manchester-born British-Libyan’ jihadist Salman Abedi whose 22 victims include girl aged just EIGHT

  • At least 22 people killed after explosions rang out at the end of an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester Arena
  • A teenage fan and an eight-year-old primary schoolgirl are among the dead, as well as a 26-year-old man
  • Video footage showed thousands fleeing in tears from the venue, many covered in blood, when gig ended 
  • Horrifying video footage showed petrified children leaping over chairs and barriers as they tried to escape
  • Police confirmed the suicide bomber died at the venue after an improvised explosive device was detonated
  • Bomber has been named by US officials as Salman Abedi and is said to be a British citizen of Libyan origin
  • US security sources say he travelled to the arena by public transport. Another man, 23, has also been arrested
  • 23-year-old Grande tweeted: ‘Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words’ 
  • Anyone concerned about missing loved-ones should call the police’s emergency hotline on 0161 856 9400
  • Were you at the concert last night? If so, please call 020 3615 3908 or email abe.hawken@mailonline.co.uk

By Thomas Burrows and Rory Tingle and Joseph Curtis and Darren Boyle and Jake Wallis Simons and Abe Hawken and Richard Spillett and Nick Fagge and Paul Thompson for MailOnline

Published: 17:47 EDT, 22 May 2017 | Updated: 12:13 EDT, 23 May 2017

The suicide bomber who blew himself up at a pop concert killing 22 people including young children has been named as Salman Abedi.

ISIS have claimed responsibility after the terrorist set off a ball bearing bomb at an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 and injuring 119 in the worst terror attack Britain has seen since the 7/7 London bombings.

Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, 18-year-old Georgina Callander and 26-year-old John Atkinson were among those killed. Of the injured, at least 12 were children were among 59 taken to hospital, with 60 others treated at the scene.

Traumatised witnesses have told how of nuts and bolts tore into young music fans when the bomb was detonated in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena moments after a concert by the US popstar ended.

The bomber – named as Salman Abedi by US officials this afternoon – was known to authorities. He died at the scene and police carried out a controlled explosion at what is believed to be his home during raids around the city today.

Abedi is understood to have been born in Britain but is from a Libyan family. A school friend told MailOnline had grown a beard when he last saw him and neighbours claimed he had been ‘acting strangely’ recently.

A 23-year-old man was also arrested by anti-terror officers as police and security services attempt to work out if the suicide bomber was part of a cell. Security sources have told MailOnline that initial analysis of the ‘sophisticated’ device suggests it was made by an expert. ….Read more here