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US Homeland Security on alert in wake of Manchester attack

Heavily armed US police forces (file photo)

The US Department of Homeland Security has stepped up security measures around the country following a deadly attack at a pop concert in the UK.

The agency said on Monday night that it was closely monitoring the situation and had contacted foreign counterparts to learn more about the terrorist attack at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande in Manchester.

At least 22 people, including children, were killed in the attack and 59 more were injured, UK police confirmed.

The DHS said it was going to take extra security measures in music arenas and other large gatherings as a precaution.

“At this time we have no information to indicate a specific threat involving music venues in the United States,” said DHS spokesman David Lapan. “However, the public may experience increased security around public places and events as officials take additional precautions.”

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Lapan also warned American citizens around the concert arena in Manchester to practice extra vigilance and contact the US embassy in London to get help.

"We stand ready to assist our friends and allies in the U.K. in all ways necessary as they investigate and recover from this incident," Lapan said.

The Daesh (ISIL) terror group reportedly issued a warning against the US, threatening American citizens with similar attacks. It was not clear whether the attacker was in contact with the Takfiri militants.

Trump's reaction

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in tweet that President Donald Trump, who is out on a visit to Israel, was constantly getting updates on the incident.

Trump addressed the terror attack during a press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, calling the people behind it “evil losers.”

“I won’t call them monsters because they would like that term… they would think that is a great name,” he said. “I would call them from now on losers, because that is what they are.”

US President Donald Trump is seen during a press conference  in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, May 23, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

The American head of state, who began his first foreign trip with a stop in Saudi Arabia, said he had spent all of his time trying to get regional countries to stand up their fight against terror.

“The terrorists and extremists and those who give them aid and comfort must be driven out from our society forever,” he added.

Ironically, the US and Saudi Arabia, along with a number of their regional allies, stand accused of providing weapons and funding various militant groups wreaking havoc in countries like Syria and Iraq.


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