ISIS Claims UK Attack on 'Crusaders Gatherings'

Death toll currently stands at 22, with dozens injured
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted May 23, 2017 8:03 AM CDT
ISIS Says Its 'Soldier' Attacked UK Arena
Armed police work at Manchester Arena after an explosion at the venue during an Ariana Grande gig in Manchester, England, on Monday.   (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

The Islamic State has taken responsibility for the attack at a UK concert venue Monday night that killed 22 and injured dozens, the AP reports. Police say a lone suicide bomber, now deceased, detonated an "improvised device" in the Manchester Arena foyer at an Ariana Grande concert, and ISIS now adds its own description, claiming "a soldier of the caliphate planted bombs in the middle of Crusaders gatherings." The group, which ABC News says made its claim in an Arabic-language release, also upped the confirmed casualty toll, saying that "30 Crusaders were killed and 70 others were wounded." Before ISIS officially claimed the attack as its own, Reuters reported that supporters of the terrorist group were celebrating on social media, with some alleging the attack was retribution for recent airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. A 23-year-old man is in police custody in connection with the attack. (More Manchester stories.)

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