ISIS claims responsibility for Manchester bombing

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing at a concert in Manchester, England, which killed 22.

The Islamic State (ISIS) terror group has claimed responsibility for Monday’s deadly bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, and says one of its members planted the bombs in the middle of the crowd.

The bombing killed 22 people, many of them children, and wounded 59.

Police, however, have spoken only of “an improvised device” used in the attack.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said forensic investigations are continuing to determine if the terrorist had accomplices. He provided no information about the individual who detonated the device.

“A soldier of the caliphate planted bombs in the middle of the Crusaders gatherings,” ISIS declared.

“The explosive devices were detonated in the shameless concert arena,” ISIS stated, while threatening that “what comes next will be more severe on the worshipers of the Cross and their allies.”

The group claimed that “30 Crusaders were killed and 70 others were wounded,” higher than the total of casualties confirmed by Manchester authorities.

Greater Manchester Police say they have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the bombing.

They did not provide details.

Police also said officials arrested a man at the Arndale shopping center in central Manchester, creating another scare, but that the arrest is not believed to be connected to Monday night’s attack.

British Prime Minister Theresa May stated that it is “beyond doubt” that Britain and the city of Manchester have fallen victim to “a callous terrorist attack.”

Speaking on Tuesday outside her offices in London, she said that “although it is not the first time Manchester has suffered in this way, it is the worst attack the city has experienced, and the worst ever to hit the north of England.”

May divulged that police believe they know the terrorist’s identity, but are not disclosing it at this time.

“This attack stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice,” she said.

Harun Khan, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, has joined the condemnations of the attack.

In a statement, Khan said that “this is horrific, this is criminal. May the perpetrators face the full weight of justice both in this life and the next.”

He urged “all those in the region and around the country to pool together to support those affected.”

ISIS has threatened to target the UK in the past.

ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack in March in which a terrorist ran his car into pedestrians in London and then stabbed a policeman, killing three and wounding 40.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for attacks in several European cities, including Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Nice.

By: World Israel News Staff
AP contributed to this report.