Police responded to reports of an explosion around 10:30pm.
Locals in Manchester offered up free rooms, beds and couches to anyone that had attended the Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.
The explosion at the concert left 22 dead, including children, as well as 59 injured. The explosion was reported to have happened in the foyer of the Manchester arena, just after the concert had finished.
Initially, the reported blast was described as a “serious incident,” but officials later said it is being treated as a terrorist incident “until police know otherwise”.
Shortly after the attack, taxi drivers began offering free fares to help get people safe.
Taxi drivers offering free rides to families who escaped. Goes to show everyone comes together at tough times #Manchester #faithinhumanity
— Sam Greenway (@samuel_greenway) May 22, 2017
The Holiday Inn closest to the Manchester Arena also began to take in those at the concert, especially children who were without or had lost their parents or guardians following the attack.
BREAKING NEWS: if you looking for your children, try Holiday Inn hotel have 50 children. Phone Holiday Inn Manchester UK +44 161 836 9600
— Mohammed Shafiq (@mshafiquk) May 22, 2017
The people of Manchester began operating #RoomforManchester over Twitter in order to help people find a safe place for the night.
#RoomForManchester is trending and people are offering lifts and rooms for the night for those in need 🙏🏽🙌🏽
— Police Community (@PolComForum) May 22, 2017
I have a sofa, floor, blankets and tea, 5 minutes from Arena for anyone in need #RoomForManchester
— Rebecca Topham (@rebeccatophamx) May 23, 2017
If you can't get home or are stuck, I'm 20 minutes outside the centre of Manchester. Please let me know if you need a bed #RoomForManchester
— Anoushka (@AnoushkaLoves) May 22, 2017
If anyone is stranded in Manchester and needs somewhere to stay, please DM me. #roomformanchester
— Connor O'Boyle (@ConnorOboyle97) May 22, 2017
People were also offering phone chargers or ‘charging banks’ for those who had run out of battery at the concert and needed to get in touch with loved ones.
#RoomsForManchester we can take people in if needed, blankets, sofas, coffee, chargers DM us if you need help #manchester x pic.twitter.com/WfaHY1eJEs
— Quote My Life (@quotemylife_uk) May 22, 2017
A lot of the reason people can't reach their kids on their cellphones is, the batteries are dead. Offer chargers. #Manchester
— raincoaster (@raincoaster) May 23, 2017
Facebook also activated their safety check feature so those that were safe could click and confirm their whereabouts over the site.
Facebook 'Safety Check' is now on.
If you're in Manchester & think people may be concerned for you, tick that you're safe #ManchesterArena pic.twitter.com/De1oLtKDWq
— Joel Goldman 🏆 (@mightyscoop) May 23, 2017
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
