http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-40007886
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Arena.html
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... rt-england
As you may or may not be aware, British police have warned Mancunians to avoid the area around the Manchester Arena, coming after (admittedly unconfirmed) reports of explosions after an Ariana Grande concert in the arena. Nearby Manchester Victoria station is not running. Of course, the cause of the explosions (let alone whether or not the reports are real) are unknown. Is it terrorism? Is it an electrical breakdown? Is it poorly-lit fireworks? No matter what, I sure as heck hope it isn't the former - that would be a genuine warning-sign to the Western world outside of the capital cities. (And, again unsurprisingly, I hope that everybody made it out alive.) But now, what do YOU think is to blame?
EDIT: What we know so far (written an hour or so after original posting):
- Happened in Manchester, after Ariana Grande gig; Grande herself is safe
- 19 dead, 50 injured, treated as terrorism until/unless evidence to the otherwise arrives
- First responders on the scene
ANOTHER EDIT: More unconfirmed reports are coming in of a gunman being seen in Royal Oldham Hospital. Still unconfirmed and still reports... but still very worrying.
YET ANOTHER EDIT: Oldham Council says that aforementioned reports are untrue.
EDIT THE FOURTH: As of 2200 BST on Tuesday: 22 dead, 59 injured. Terrorist named as Salman Abedi, 22, a student at Salford University. UK terror alert increased to CRITICAL for third time (after 2006 transAtlantic liquid bomb plot, and 2007 London nightclub threat and Glasgow Airport bombing). An attack is now imminently expected - be wary. Operation Temperer, which involves the army manning key locations to free up the armed police, is now underway.
EDIT THE FIFTH: 22/59 (dead/injured) seems to be the most-reported figure, but there are some disagreements - the Mirror says 21/56, the Sun and Star say 22/119 (59 injured + 60 "walking wounded").
AN EDIT BUNDLED IN WITH EDIT 5: Security will be tightened for all major sporting events occuring in London (and there are lots - FA Cup final, EFL playoffs, Aviva Premiership final...), as well as for the Champions League final in Cardiff (for the latter, measures include greater security checks and more vehicle restrictions). There will be a minute of silence before the Europa League final between Ajax and Manchester United; United will be wearing black armbands.
