UPDATE - UK police confirm 22 dead in Manchester bombing

UPDATES WITH INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION, UK REACTIONS

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The death toll from Monday’s terror attack at a pop concert in Manchester, northern England, has risen to 22, police confirmed on Tuesday.

Fifty-nine people were injured and are being treated across hospitals in the Greater Manchester region.

Police said the blast was the work on one man but added their “fast-moving investigation” involving 400 officers was trying to determine if he acted alone or was part of a wider plot.

The man -- who police say detonated an improvised explosive device -- died at the scene.

Monday night’s blast at the 21,000-seat Manchester Arena took place shortly before 10.35 p.m. (2135GMT) local time.

The arena had been hosting a concert by U.S. pop star Ariana Grande and thousands of children and young teenagers were among the crowd.

"We are working to establish full details of what is being treated by police as an appalling terrorist attack," Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement early Tuesday.

"All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected,” she added.

Turkey also slammed the attack. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “I condemn the terrorist attack in Manchester. Sincere condolences to the British Government and … people.”

-International condemnation

Other leaders have condemned Monday’s attack.

Speaking in Bethlehem during a visit to the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the British people.

“We cannot stand a moment longer to the slaughter of innocent people,” he said.

The Kremlin released a statement, saying Russian leader Vladimir Putin condemned the “inhuman, cynical” attack.

French President Emmanuel Macron is to call the U.K. prime minister later on Tuesday, the Elysee confirmed.

France’s prime minister, Edouard Philippe, condemned what he called the "abominable crime” and urged French citizens to be vigilant.

"The most cowardly form of terrorism has struck once again, targeting -- as in Paris more than a year ago -- a concert venue," Philippe said in a statement.

In the U.K. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham described the incident as an "evil attack" while main opposition party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was "horrified" by the deaths.

An emergency meeting of ministers and intelligence figures -- dubbed COBRA -- will convene later on Tuesday.

The current terror threat level in the U.K. has been severe, which means a terror attack is highly likely.

This latest attack is the worst terror incident in British soil since a series of deadly attacks in capital London on 7 July 2005, which killed 52 people.

*Hajer M’tiri, Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Paris and Ankara