22 killed and scores injured in Manchester pop concert venue explosion

Officials said at least 59 people were wounded in the suspected terror strike on Monday night at the Manchester Arena.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Theresa May has postponed her campaigning for the general elections and will chair a meeting of Cobra committee later, the BBC reported.

"All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected," May was quoted as saying in the media.

Following the attack, the area was cordoned off, thereby disrupting train services.

Andy Holey, an eyewitness was quoted as saying by BBC, "As I was waiting, an explosion went off and it threw me about 30ft from one set of doors to the other set of doors."

"When I got up I saw bodies lying on the ground. My first thought was to go into the arena to try to find my family.

"When I couldn't find them, I went outside with the police and fire and looked through some of the bodies to try and find my wife and daughter," he added.

Holey eventually managed to find them in a safe state.

Some eyewitnesses have also claimed the incident as a bomb attack.

"It was definitely a bomb. It was definitely in the foyer," Emma Johnson told BBC Radio Manchester.

"The whole building shook. There was a blast and then a flash of fire afterwards. There were bodies everywhere," Emma added.

According to police, the people killed are expected to be teenagers, keeping in mind the age demography of Ariana Grande's fan following.

Grande herself tweeted that she's at a loss of words.

"broken.from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words," her tweet read.

A similar incident had rocked Paris in November 2015, where gunmen invaded the Bataclan Concert Hall and openfired at a gig by the Eagles of Death Metal, killing at least 90 people.

Reactions have poured in on social media, solidarizing with the victims.

Noted British journalist and television personality Piers Morgan has termed the incident as 'depravity beyond human comprehension'.

In a tweet, Morgan said, "Who targets a pop concert full of young children? This is depravity beyond human comprehension.
#manchester,"

The incident also received flak from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who tweeted, "Pained by the attack in Manchester. We strongly condemn it. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that the city stands with Manchester and its people.

"London stands with Manchester - our thoughts are with all those killed and injured tonight and our brave emergency services,' he said.

Condemning the incident, UK's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said, "Terrible incident in Manchester. My thoughts are with all those affected and our brilliant emergency services."

Paying homage to the departed souls, actor Asa Butterfield tweeted, "Heartbroken by the events in Manchester, I'm at a loss for words. May those who had their lives cut short rest in peace."

Expressing her views, singer Ashley Tisdale has said she's 'devastated' with the latest development.

"I am devastated. Sending prayers to everyone in #Manchester," her tweet read.

Singer and actress Demi Lovato too shared her views on Twitter.

"Tearing up imagining innocent concert goers losing their lives.. praying for everyone and all #arianators. ," the Camp Rock star tweeted.