Xi: Deep sadness for Manchester

President Xi Jinping was among world leaders who sent condolences to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II after the deadly explosion in Manchester that killed 22, in addition to the suicide bomber, and injured 59.

Xi expressed deep sadness over those who died and offered his sympathy to their relatives. At this difficult moment, the Chinese people firmly stand by the British people, Xi said.

Premier Li Keqiang also sent a message of condolence to British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday.

A suicide bomber, named by police as 22-year-old Manchester-born Salman Abedi, triggered an improvised explosive device in the midst of a crowd of young pop fans and their parents at Manchester Arena, as US pop star Ariana Grande finished a sellout show.

Manchester medical staff said 12 children under 16 were among the 59 hurt. The dead included an 8-year-old girl, Saffie Rose Roussos, a pupil at Tarleton Primary School, in Lancashire.

May announced on Tuesday night that the country's terror threat level has been raised from "severe" to "critical", its highest level. Members of the armed forces will be deployed across Britain under police command, and they would be seen at "big events", according to May.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkinson told reporters: "We believe it was one man, acting alone, who used an improvised explosive device. We believe he is amongst the dead."

Police said they had arrested a 23-year-old man in Manchester in connection with the bombing but gave no further details.

Queen Elizabeth II sent her "deepest sympathy" to the bombing victims, adding that the whole nation had been "shocked". The queen and members of the royal family observed a minute's silence at Buckingham Palace in memory of the 22 lives lost.

On Tuesday evening, thousands attended a vigil for the victims in Albert Square, in front of Manchester's imposing Victorian town hall building. Other vigils were being planned across the country.

May chaired a meeting of COBRA, the country's emergency committee, and later told reporters: "This attack stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice. We struggle to

understand the warped and twisted mind that would bring carnage to young children. Terrorists will never win - our country and our way of life will always prevail."

In London, police authorities said additional armed officers would be on the streets of the capital as a precaution.

In Manchester, hospitals swung into mass-casualty mode as medical staff from surrounding areas volunteered to help. Paramedics at the scene also treated a number of walking wounded, police said.

UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd issued a statement saying: "This was a barbaric attack, deliberately targeting some of the most vulnerable in our society - young people and children out at a pop concert.

"The public should remain alert, but not alarmed.

The great city of Manchester has been affected by terrorism before; its spirit was not bowed; its community continues."

Eyewitnesses in Manchester spoke of bodies strewn on the ground, covered in blood.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing, describing the perpetrator as a "soldier of the caliphate", but there was no evidence there was any direct link or prior knowledge among the terror group about the attack or the attacker.

May and fellow politicians agreed to suspend general election campaigning ahead of the June 8 vote.

Andy Burnham, the recently elected mayor of Greater Manchester, said it was "an act of evil. It has been a very dark night. Manchester people will come together. We will not let this divide us".

The BBC said a number of people and local hotels had offered temporary accommodation to concert-goers, and taxi drivers were offering free transportation.

Zhang Yunbi in Beijing contributed to the story.

chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily USA 05/24/2017 page1)