A fleet of ambulances was seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue after the late Monday incident and police said people should avoid the area. Bomb disposal teams followed soon after.

The deaths followed television footage of people leaving the arena, which had been hosting a concert by the American singer Ariana Grande, in a state of alarm and distress.

The first unconfirmed reports of an explosion emerged shortly after 2145 GMT.

The statement issued by Greater Manchester Police that confirmed the deaths did not comment on any possible cause for the apparent explosion.

“Please avoid the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene,” it said, noting that details of a telephone number for concerned families to call would follow.

There had been reports of a loud bang being heard near the end of the concert, causing people to rush for the exits.

Isabel Hodgins, who had been attending the concert, told Sky News: “Everybody was panicking, there was pushing up the stairs.

“The corridor was full, it smelled of burning, there was quite a lot of smoke as we were leaving.

– ‘Lucky to have gotten away’ –

===============================

“It’s just shocking and we just feel very shaken up. We’re just lucky to have gotten away safely.”

Several media outlets reported that there had been two explosions from within the 21,000 capacity venue.

Robert Tempkin, 22, from Middlesbrough, told the BBC: “Everyone was screaming and running, there were coats and people’s phones on the floor. People just dropped everything.

“Some people were screaming they’d seen blood but other people were saying it was balloons busting or a speaker had been popped.

“There were lots of ambulances. I saw somebody being treated. I couldn’t tell what had happened to him.”

Suzy Mitchell, whose flat is opposite the venue said: “(I) just heard a huge bang from my bed, came out to the front of my apartment and everyone was running away in big crowds.”

Train services to and from Manchester Victoria Station — located under the Arena — had been cancelled.

British Transport Police said in a statement: “Officers are at Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening.

“Emergency services are at the scene and we are working to establish more information regarding the explosion and will provide further updates as soon as possible.”

The incident caused transport chaos, with traffic jams outside the venue.

“Emergency services are dealing with an incident near Manchester Victoria, resulting in all lines being closed,” operator Northern Railway wrote on its website.//AFP

A fleet of ambulances was seen rushing to the Manchester Arena venue after the late Monday incident and police said people should avoid the area. Bomb disposal teams followed soon after.

The deaths followed television footage of people leaving the arena, which had been hosting a concert by the American singer Ariana Grande, in a state of alarm and distress.

The first unconfirmed reports of an explosion emerged shortly after 2145 GMT.

The statement issued by Greater Manchester Police that confirmed the deaths did not comment on any possible cause for the apparent explosion.

“Please avoid the area as first responders work tirelessly at the scene,” it said, noting that details of a telephone number for concerned families to call would follow.

There had been reports of a loud bang being heard near the end of the concert, causing people to rush for the exits.

Isabel Hodgins, who had been attending the concert, told Sky News: “Everybody was panicking, there was pushing up the stairs.

“The corridor was full, it smelled of burning, there was quite a lot of smoke as we were leaving.

– ‘Lucky to have gotten away’ –

===============================

“It’s just shocking and we just feel very shaken up. We’re just lucky to have gotten away safely.”

Several media outlets reported that there had been two explosions from within the 21,000 capacity venue.

Robert Tempkin, 22, from Middlesbrough, told the BBC: “Everyone was screaming and running, there were coats and people’s phones on the floor. People just dropped everything.

“Some people were screaming they’d seen blood but other people were saying it was balloons busting or a speaker had been popped.

“There were lots of ambulances. I saw somebody being treated. I couldn’t tell what had happened to him.”

Suzy Mitchell, whose flat is opposite the venue said: “(I) just heard a huge bang from my bed, came out to the front of my apartment and everyone was running away in big crowds.”

Train services to and from Manchester Victoria Station — located under the Arena — had been cancelled.

British Transport Police said in a statement: “Officers are at Manchester Arena following reports of an explosion within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening.

“Emergency services are at the scene and we are working to establish more information regarding the explosion and will provide further updates as soon as possible.”

The incident caused transport chaos, with traffic jams outside the venue.

“Emergency services are dealing with an incident near Manchester Victoria, resulting in all lines being closed,” operator Northern Railway wrote on its website.

“We call on the DPRK to stop further testing and allow space to explore the resumption of meaningful dialogue.”

The Security Council will hold a closed-door emergency meeting on Tuesday at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea to discuss the latest test.

After a previous test on May 14, the council met to discuss tightening sanctions but there was no concrete action.

“What is clear is that the DPRK is openly defying Security Council resolutions with its accelerated ballistic missile testing activities,” said Dujarric.

The United States is negotiating with China, Pyongyang’s ally, on a tougher raft of measures in a new UN resolution, but US Ambassador Nikki Haley said last week that no final draft text had been agreed.

During last week’s closed-door meeting, China insisted that there be no mention of a resolution in remarks read by the council president at the end of the meeting, diplomats said.

North Korea has carried out two atomic tests and dozens of missile launches since the beginning of last year in its quest to develop a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States.

The Security Council adopted two sanctions resolutions last year to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang and deny leader Kim Jong-Un the hard currency needed to fund his military programs.

Under UN resolutions, North Korea is barred from developing nuclear and missile technology.

The latest missile tested was the Pukguksong-2, which uses solid fuel that allows for immediate firing, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said.

So far almost all the North’s missiles have been liquid-fuelled, which have to be time-consumingly filled with propellant before launch.

Solid fuel missiles can be fired far more rapidly, dramatically shortening the time available for any attempt to intervene and prevent a launch.

China released a draft guideline on Monday to encourage and regulate the booming bike-sharing industry.

It aims to solve problems like illegal parking, lack of clarity in company responsibilities, and the safety of users’ deposits and personal information, the draft says.

Public opinion is being solicited until June 5 on the draft, released by the Ministry of Transport and other agencies.

Bike sharing plays a positive role in many ways — meeting public needs, solving the “last mile problem” in urban public transport and easing urban traffic, it said.

The number of public bike registrations by users has surpassed 100 million, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Shared bicycles, provided by companies such as Mobike, Ofo and Bluegogo, have been placed in many Chinese cities since last year. Users can rent a bike at a low cost, usually around 1 yuan (14 US cents) an hour, depending on the brand. The services mostly target short-distance travel, such as between a subway station and work, or from home to the grocery store. They usually require a deposit for registration.

The draft says companies will be required to buy insurance for users, and they are encouraged to waive deposits for users to rent the bikes. Companies should establish ways to handle complaints, comments and suggestions from the public. Companies are encouraged to use high technology to regulate parking of their bikes.

The draft looks at the issue from different angles. “We studied local regulations when drafting the guideline. The new guideline is written from the macroscopic perspective, but it also connects with local regulations,” said Yang Xinzheng, director of the China Urban Sustainable Transport Research Center under the China Academy of Transportation Sciences.

Municipal governments in Chengdu and Shenzhen have already issued local regulations to guide the development of shared bikes, and other cities are studying the industry and preparing to release local guidelines.

Companies should be responsible for riders’ safety and also for the safety of users’ personal information and their deposit, Yang said. They should work on improving online and offline operations, he said.

The principle of the guideline should be the protection of the rights of companies and users, according to Li Junhui, professor of China University of Political Science and Law. “The central government’s guideline is required in terms of deposits, information protection and risk prevention, to eliminate controversy and encourage innovation,” Li said.

Mobike, a major bike-sharing company, welcomed the move. “It reflects the government’s open, tolerant and encouraging attitude toward the development of the public bike-sharing industry,” Mobike said on Monday. The guideline “will play a positive role in leading the industry to growth”.

“We’ve been talking about progress in eurozone integration for years but things are not moving fast enough… We have now decided to get things going more quickly and further in a very concrete manner,” he said in Berlin after talks with his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble.

The new working group will look at areas including how the bloc can harmonise its tax regime, whether it can better coordinate its economic policies, as well as find examples of investments that both parties can fund.

“Not only our compatriots in France and Germany, but also others in the eurozone are expecting concrete proposals and concrete investments that can generate economic activity and jobs,” said Le Maire.

Underlining the necessity of his government to get results swiftly, Le Maire pointed to France’s bitterly fought presidential election in which both the far-right and the far-left scored their highest margins since the end of World War II.

“If we don’t succeed, then it will be those in the extremes who will succeed us,” warned Le Maire, adding that “our compatriots will only judge us by our results.”

The meeting was requested by the United States, Japan and South Korea, Uruguay’s mission to the United Nations said.

“Due to the latest North Korean missile launch (May 21st), urgent consultations have been requested by US, Japan and ROK. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 23,” the Uruguayan mission said.

North Korea test-launched what the US Pacific Command described as a medium-range missile earlier Tuesday, the second missile test this week and the 10th this year.

The missile, which was fired from Pukchang, North Korea, traveled about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan, according to the South Korean and US militaries.

It followed the test launch May 14 of what was believed to be an intermediate-range Hwasong-12 missile that Pyongyang boasted was capable of carrying a “heavy” nuclear warhead.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson earlier Sunday said the latest test was “disappointing” and “disturbing.”

Tensions in the region have soared amid the drumbeat of missile tests and persistent fears that Pyongyang might conduct a sixth nuclear test.

Any Thais who happened to lose a shoe or two while visiting South Korea might be able to find them again in a 17-metre-tall art installation unveiled outside Seoul Station on Saturday.

“Shoes Tree” is made of more than 30,000 well-worn shoes and, since its unveiling coincided with the opening of Seoullo 7017 – the city’s first roadway- turned-pedestrian park – it’s probably intended to get people walking.

Modelled after New York’s much-admired High Line park, a re-purposed railway, Seoul’s strolling park stretches for about a kilometre and links to surrounding areas, including Seoul Station and Namdaemun Market.

“Shoes Tree” at the centre of Seoullo 7017 was designed and installed by environmental artist Hwang Ji-hae. Flower seeds have been planted inside each shoe.

Environmental artist Hwang Jihae’s “Shoes Tree” is a towering art installation made of used footwear. Photo/The Korea Herald

“We invited Hwang to install it here to demonstrate the meaning of ‘urban restoration’,” says Choi Kwang-bin of the city’s gardening department. (Yes, Seoul has a gardening department.) “Both ‘Shoes Tree’ and Seoullo 7017 are given new life with new meaning, reborn as creative upcycled art and a unique park, respectively.”

Hwang made his tree out of shoes to pay tribute to historic Yeomcheon-gyo, a street long famous for its purveyors of handmade shoes, which is right behind Seoullo 7017.

Seoullo 7017, begun four years ago, makes use of the disused overpass of a highway that once connected western and central Seoul. Citizens wanted the overpass removed after it was classified as dangerous in 2006.

The “70” in the new parkway’s name refers to 1970, when the Seoul Station flyover was constructed, while the “17” alludes to the number of walkways connected to it, as well as this year.

“Shoes Tree” will be in place through May 29. Residents were able to hang their own shoes and drawings of flowers on the installation when it was unveiled on Saturday.

Other events involving citizen participation will continue at Seoullo 7017 until June 18.

South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-In called a National Security Council meeting in response to the latest launch, Yonhap news agency reported.

The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it could not yet identify the type of missile fired from Pukchang in South Pyongan province but it travelled about 500 km (311 miles).

“Our military is closely monitoring signs for additional provocation by the North Korean military and we are keeping a full military readiness,” a statement said.

The Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile fired on May 14 flew some 700 km — further than any previous North Korean ballistic missile — and according to Pyongyang could carry a nuclear warhead.

Analysts said it represented a significant step forward in the North’s weapons capabilities as it accelerates efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States.

The launches, and a threatened sixth nuclear test have fuelled tension with the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has vowed that such an ICBM launch “won’t happen”.

Pyongyang has long had missiles that can reach targets across the South and Japan.

With an imputed range of 4,500 kilometres the Hwasong-12 also puts US bases on the Pacific island of Guam within reach.

The UN Security Council met behind closed doors last Tuesday to discuss tightening sanctions on North Korea after its May 14 launch.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United States was working with China, Pyongyang’s main ally, on a new sanctions resolution and warned that all countries must step up action against North Korea or face measures themselves.

“We all have to send a sign to North Korea, and that is: ‘No more. This is not play time. This is serious. These threats are not welcome’,” Haley told reporters ahead of the meeting.

“If you are a country that is supplying or supporting North Korea, we will call you out on it,” Haley said.

The North says it needs missiles and nuclear weapons to deter any attack by the United States.

State newspaper Minju Joson Sunday threatened more launches.

“If the U.S. persists in confrontation with the DPRK (North Korea), the latter will show how the crime-woven history of the U.S. is put to an end,” it said.

“Many more ‘Juche weapons’ capable of striking the US will be launched from this land. This is the DPRK’s answer to the Trump administration,” it said, referring to the national philosophy of “Juche” or self-reliance.

A typical weekend date for Japanese Princess Mako and her soon- to-be fiance Kei Komuro, like many young couples deep in the throes of love, involved strolls along the Yokohama bay front, dining in Tokyo restaurants and spending time together visiting museums and at the movies.

When the couple, both 25, went on dates, security was kept to the bare minimum and they usually preferred travelling by train.

The five-year courtship for Komuro, dubbed “Prince of the Sea” when he was tourism ambassador for coastal Fujisawa city, and the princess culminated in a flurry of congratulations last week when news broke of their impending engagement.

The duo met in June 2012 when they were studying at Tokyo’s International Christian University (ICU). They were introduced by a mutual friend at a social gathering in a western restaurant in Shibuya, held for local and foreign students to discuss studying abroad.

The princess’ parents, Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, took a quick liking to Komuro, who has been described in local media reports as an earnest young man who enjoys cooking, playing the violin and skiing. They began seeing each other a month later, and he reportedly first asked for her hand a year after they met.

Their dreamy romance between a royal and a “commoner” is a modern-day fairy tale that has since captured imagination and headlines all over the world. Princess Mako grew up within the rarefied compounds of the grand neo-baroque Akasaka Palace, which hosts visiting state dignitaries to Japan.

Komuro, whose father died when he was young, lives with his mother and grandfather in an apartment in Yokohama. To help makes ends meet, he worked part-time during his university years at a French restaurant and taught English at a cram school.

Their love has withstood the test of distance when the princess pursued a masters in art museum and gallery studies at Britain’s University of Leicester from 2014 to 2015.

Komuro is now a paralegal who also majors in business law as a graduate student at Tokyo’s Hitotsubashi University. Princess Mako, meanwhile, works as an affiliate researcher at a museum at the University of Tokyo as she reads a PhD course in museology at the ICU.

A host of traditional rituals await the couple in the run-up to their official engagement which could be as early as next month. A wedding is expected next year.

First, in a betrothal ceremony called Nosai no Gi, Komuro’s messenger will visit the Imperial Palace bearing gifts to make the official vow of engagement. Such gifts usually include male and female sea bream, a bottle of sake and bolts of silk that will be used to make the wedding dress. A wedding date will then be set.

While she will lose her royal status upon marriage, she will be paid a one-time lump sum allowance by the state and earn voting rights.