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Terrified Ariana Grande fans show the moments after Manchester concert attack

A WITNESS who left “seconds before the last song” at the Ariana Grande concert has posted a graphic description of the aftermath. WARNING: GRAPHIC

Matt YoungMatt Young
@MattYoung
2 min read
May 23, 2017 - 1:55PM
Ariana Grande fans flee Manchester Arena blast

WARNING: GRAPHIC

A WITNESS who says she left “seconds before the last song” at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester said she saw the bomb go off “meters in front of me” and has posted a graphic description of the aftermath.

Posting photos of her blood stained hair and clothing, Abby Mullen said she was covered in people’s skin, blood and faeces.

She said victims were running around her with “body parts and bits of skin missing”, and despite the graphic nature of her post, she wanted people to see "how cruel the world is”.

Abby Mullen posted this image to Facebook of her handbag.
Abby Mullen posted this image to Facebook of her handbag.
Ms Mullen posted photos of her blood stained clothing.
Ms Mullen posted photos of her blood stained clothing.
Abby Mullen’s blood soaked hair.
Abby Mullen’s blood soaked hair.
An extract from Abby Mullen’s Facebook post after the attack.
An extract from Abby Mullen’s Facebook post after the attack.

“I’m still finding bits of god knows what in my hair. I am fine and back in my hotel I hope everyone involved and in front of me is okay.”

“We are being told it was a balloon/sound system but I can assure you it was not. You never ever expect these things too happen too you but this proves it can happen too anybody.”

“That sound, the blood & those who where running around clueless with body parts & bits of skin missing will not be leaving my mind any time soon or the minds of those involved.

“I understand these images might be upsetting however I feel as though people need too be shown just how cruel this world really is.”

It’s just one of the graphic scenes to come from terrified attendees of the Ariana Grande concert, capturing the initial moments after the attack, and the subsequent carnage and panic following.

In one scene captured inside the arena, screams ring throughout Manchester Arena as panic begins to spread across the scene and crowds begin to rush for the doors.

At least 19 people have died and about 50 others injured after reports of the explosion at an Ariana Grande gig in the UK.

Scared for their lives, crowds started “running full speed to the exit” when they heard a loud explosion immediately after the American pop singer finished her final song for the night.

As crowds were exiting, the explosion went off, and “security were screaming at us to get out”.

One eyewitness, who was waiting in the foyer close to the merchandise stands outside the arena door, said he heard Ariana Grande play her last song, and as people streamed out of the venue, he saw a “big flash”, felt a “whoosh of air” and began to smell smoke.

He looked in the direction and saw “people laying down on the floor”.

Others described a “big bang” and after someone in the crowd shouted “it’s a bomb”, the confusion became a chaotic crush to get out.

“Me and my daughter was on the stairs, somebody climbed on top of us. I had to pull [my daughter] out by her arm,” one mother, Vicky, told ITV News.

Manchester Police say the scene is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise. In a tweet police confirmed at least 19 had died and 50 others were injured at Manchester Arena where the gig had just finished.

Video footage captures the scale of the chaos as thousands of terrified fans run for the nearest exit.

An 18-year-old who was at the concert and visibly shaken, said she “ran for my life”, despite arena staff assuring her that a balloon had gone off inside.

“They told us to be calm, then ambulances came and we realised it wasn’t a balloon.”

More to come ...

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/terrified-ariana-grande-fans-show-the-moments-after-manchester-concert-attack/news-story/b7534aa75128488d8c9cb700b990596f