The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility Tuesday for a suspected suicide bombing the previous day that killed at least 22 people and injured 59 at a concert by U.S. pop singer Ariana Grande in the northern England city of Manchester.

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In a statement distributed online, the group said one of its "soldiers" carried out the attack at Manchester Arena.

Police believe a bomb was detonated around 10:30 p.m. by a man who was found dead at the scene.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the city had fallen victim to a "callous terrorist attack" and police believe they know the attacker's identity.

Witnesses heard loud bangs at the end of the concert with the crowd rushing in panic to exit the venue, which was filled with smoke. Grande, 23, who is popular among teenagers and children for her Disney songs, was not injured.

Manchester Arena, one of the biggest indoor arenas in Europe with capacity for 21,000 people, said on its website the incident "took place outside the venue in a public space" as people were leaving the show.

Grande said on Twitter, "From the bottom of my heart, I am so, so sorry. I don't have words."

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Local police arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the blast, but his relation to the attacker was not known.

Christopher Allen, 36, whose sister-in-law Sarah Smith was attending the concert, said he spoke with her on the phone just after the blast.

"I could hear her daughter, our niece, screaming and crying. Sarah said she'd heard a bang and everyone was panicking and trying to get out," he told Kyodo News.

Allen, who later escorted his relatives away from the scene, added, "The area was full of people moving all over, very confusing, and many people were crying, upset."

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The prime minister held an emergency meeting with security authorities to deal with the incident.

In the wake of the blast, Britain's ruling Conservative party and opposition Labour Party said they are temporarily suspending campaigning for the June 8 general election.

Police are advising the public to avoid the area around the concert venue.

The incident follows a terrorist attack involving a vehicle near parliament in London on March 22 that left five people dead and more than 50 injured.

Manchester Arena, which opened in 1995, attracts more than 1 million visitors annually.

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