this, it would have forever like this, it would have been thousands of people, thousands of people, at the venue. it is very close to one of the main stations in manchester, victoria station. there will be no trains from there. the station is closed. it is close on tuesday and the prime minister will be chairing a meeting with the emergency cobra thomas has been in manchester, talking to people who are coming out in various states of shock. it was quite large. this bang happened. we looked at each other and we were like, it can't be something you see on the news all the time, that doesn't happen to people like us. so

eve ryo ne doesn't happen to people like us. so everyone and everybody started screaming and running in every direction. there was one girl, she tumbled. over about three seats, we she went with such force. we made oui’ she went with such force. we made our way out. they were lost shoes and lost phones. we got up to the top of the staircase and we asked the steward were to go. he didn't know where to send ours. we got up and returned. and in effect, we were running towards the foyer. if there was a shooter, we were totally running in one direction.” was a shooter, we were totally running in one direction. i think that was my thought, there was a shooter. it didn't sound loud enough to be what it was expected. we made it out. we were not going to run

their encase it was a shooter. the bridge isjust over the road. the bridge isjust over the road. the bridge near the arena. bridge isjust over the road. the bridge near the arenali bridge isjust over the road. the bridge near the arena. i thought, we can't stay here all night but it was really, really, really scary. we did nowhere was safe. we went to the hotel behind us and they were serving tea and copy and bringing it out to the ambulance and the police and everything that are around here. that office — — and everything that are around here. that office —— offered us a lift home. i had no idea who this was. i probably would have done yesterday that certainly wasn't going to do it after this experience. the most frightening experience of my life. the police and ambulance, they did an amazing job. so quickly. you take your hat off to them. some

unaccompanied children were in a hotel behind you 7 unaccompanied children were in a hotel behind you? no, we didn't see any. a woman came in asking if we knew anyone. there were children in there. we don't know where. another hotel apparently had children there. all the children are at their parents with them. totally scary. there were young girls up and down not knowing where their mums were on the phone, battery is dying, people crying. it was awful. there was one young girl who is hyperventilating social —— young girl who is hyperventilating social — — so young girl who is hyperventilating social —— so we got hold of her and tried to calm her down. we left her with her mum. it wasjust horrific, absolutely horrific. this is a place

that would have been full of children, teenagers as well. we were surrounded. young boys, young girls, people my age, 19. we went there not long ago. this is the fourth time we've been to the arena this month. why now, why this time? when you go to such a big place, it is always on the back of your mind with the world the back of your mind with the world the way it is, it is sad. now, how do people go on? people live in manchester. we don't live in manchester. we don't live in manchester. it's scary. i've got loads of friends who go to uni here. it's devastating. one of the bands inside the arena captured the moment when fans heard an explosion. 0h,

oh, my god. whatjust happened? 0h, my oh, my god. whatjust happened? 0h, d! oh, my god. whatjust happened? 0h, my god! so that was that jarrad -- dreadful moment. we heard from manchester police. they have also released a phone to the public: this is a hotlines are people who maybe saw something suspicious in the lead—up to be suspected attack which could help the peace in the investigation. the number to call is as it is on the screen: the national anti—terrorist hotline. well, we had heard about ariana grande, the singer herself reacting on twitter. the manager has also been responding.

ariana grande herself tweeted actually, quite quickly, simply to say: another one from harry stiles, saying i am heartbroken from what happened in manchester. sending love to everyone involved. a number of music stars to put out similar messages. with urban politicians, the prime minister issuing a statement, saying: we have heard from the leader of the opposition, jeremy corbyn. the tweeted as well: all the main domestic party leaders

as they suspend their campaigns. and some response from abroad as well. world leaders have been reacting. a statement to the australian parliament, malcolm turnbull described this as a brutal attack on young people everywhere. he went on and off and his heartfelt sympathy and off and his heartfelt sympathy and resolute solid —— solidarity to people in britain and said his thoughts and prayers were being sent to the victims and their families. he also said the attack was especially bile as it seems to have been directed at innocent children and teenagers who were enjoying the concert. our correspond and has been following all the developments. sarah, we have a unified message now politically in terms of the election. absolutely. in the last couple of minutes, it's been confirmed all the major parties are suspending their election campaign.

norman smith has let us know that the conservatives, labour and the snp and liberal democrats have confirmed that today's campaigning has been suspended. that coming through in the last couple of minutes. that is people are waking up, this does have ripple effects. we've been hearing from world leaders passing on their condolences. one thing is, the chinese president, xijinping, has phoned the queen offering condolences for the loved ones and the victims. in this time of great difficulty, the uk and china stand together, he said. we also heard and as you mentioned, a lot of celebrities, singers, really, a show of solidarity on social media, passing on their thoughts. we heard from harry stiles, the former one

direction singer. taylor swift is written, my thoughts, prayers and tea rs written, my thoughts, prayers and tears for all those affected in the manchester tragedy tonight. i am sending all my love. this is an ongoing operation. the area amount —— around manchester arena is cordoned off. we heard there will be extra officers on the trains and stations today. victoria, the stations today. victoria, the station very close to the arena. as well as the global expressions of solidarity, in manchester, people are showing solidarity. we heard from the mayor of manchester. my heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones. a terrible night oui’ lost loved ones. a terrible night our great city. but one thing that really has come through is a lot of people have praised the quick response from the police, the

ambulance service, the fire brigade who were there extremely quickly. you can stay up—to—date with all the developments by going to the bbc website. that is all the important information coming in to us. regular updates on casualties and eyewitness accounts. go to the website. that is it from us. back at the top of the hour. hello there. last week, across the british isles, the weather came from this area of low pressure. we change the week and the nature of the weather due to high pressure close to us through most of the week until the bank holiday weekend. lots of this kind of thing. buttercups enjoying the sunshine and fairly cloudy fare here in northern ireland. further north towards inverness, a lot of cloud. that weather feature is moving as we start tuesday towards the northern isles. a chilly start to parts of scotland. further south, high

pressure not in place. this air comes from the atlantic and it is warm and moist and will be all over the channel islands and the isles of scilly, coming into the west midlands as well. further east, further north, dry and bright and sunny for the most part. a lot of fine, dry weather and turning increasingly warm. good morning, you are watching bbc breakfast. at least 19 people have been killed and more than 50 others injured, in what police are treating as a terror attack at a concert here in the centre of manchester. crowds fled in panic from the manchester arena, after an explosion at the end of a performance by the singer ariana grande late last night.

a loud bang was heard, and witnesses reported the smell of burning. screaming, shouting, just people... mad, chaotic rush to the nearest exit. suddenly, like, something really