POLICE have confirmed 22 people have died after an explosion hit Manchester Arena during a pop concert on Monday night.

Witnesses reported hearing a "huge bang" at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig.

Police say the male attacker died in the bomb blast as he was carrying and improvised explosive device which he detonated around 10.35pm.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “This has been the most horrific incident we have had to face in Greater Manchester and one that we all hoped we would never see.

“Families and many young people were out to enjoy a concert at the Manchester Arena and have lost their lives.  

"Our thoughts are with those 22 victims that we now know have died, the 59 people who have been injured and their loved ones.  

"We continue to do all we can to support them. They are being treated at eight hospitals across Greater Manchester.

“This is a fast-moving investigation and we have significant resources deployed to both the investigation and the visible patrols that people will see across Greater Manchester as they wake up to news of the events last night.

"This will include armed officers as people would expect. More than 400 officers have been involved in this operation during the night."

Manchester Victoria is closed and train operator Northern says it is likely to be closed until at least tomorrow.

Other services are running from Manchester.

Those at the concert were told to run from the area by armed police after leaving the arena.

Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs and what sounded like gunshots just after the entertainment had finished.

Armed police now swamped the streets around the arena and police moved members of the public away from the area.

Suzy Mitchell, 26, whose flat is opposite the venue, reported a huge bang rocking the neighbourhood.

She told the Press Association: "(I) just heard a huge bang from my bed, came out to the front of my apartments (we're on the top floor so have perfect view) and everyone was running away in big crowds.

"The bang was so big I heard it from my room which is at the back of the apartment blocks.

"Currently lots of emergency services going to and from. But can't see anything substantial as of yet except fleeing people and lots of cars."

One fan at the concert described how the explosion hit the venue as fans were leaving the building.

Dawn Price was at the concert with her daughter and their friends.

She said: "I'm really shaken and can't process what happened as so many people were there with children.

"There was a big bang just as it finished and everyone started to run back into the arena.

"Then seconds later people started to run back in from another exit."

Majid Khan, 22, said: "I and my sister, along with a lot of others were seeing Ariana Grande perform at Manchester Arena, and we were all exiting the venue when around 10.40-10,45pm-ish a huge bomb-like bang went off that hugely panicked everyone and we were all trying to flee the arena.

"It was one bang and essentially everyone from the other side of the arena where the bang was heard from suddenly came running towards us as they were trying to exit Trinity Way and that was blocked so everyone was just running to any exit they could find as quickly as they could.

"Everyone was in a huge state of panic, calling each other as some had gone to the toilet whilst this had gone off, so it was just extremely disturbing for everyone there."

Witnesses reported helicopters were circling above the scene after reports of the blast.

If you were at the concert tonight email newsroom@worldgroup.co.uk.