Explosion at concert in UK leaves 22 dead, 59 injured

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) - Twenty-two people, including children, have been killed and 59 injured in an explosion carried out by a suspected suicide bomber at the Manchester Arena in the UK on Monday night. 

The explosion took place at the end of a concert by US pop singer Ariana Grande as fans were leaving the arena.

The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to an unverified report by Reuters. Greater Manchester police say the perpetrator was a man acting alone, who died at the scene after detonating an improvised explosive device.

The arena, which is the city's largest indoor venue, had thousands in attendance. Videos of the attack and the aftermath have been circulating on social media.

More than 400 police officers have been deployed throughout Manchester according to the chief constable. 

The incident comes nearly two months after an assailant killed five people outside Parliament in London, the first mass-casualty attack since the 2005 London bombings. 

UK Prime Minister Theresa May will chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee Tuesday morning in response to the incident.