Indian High Commission sets up a response unit following Manchester terror attack

The Indian High Commission in London has set up a response unit and activated more helplines to assist any Indian nationals caught up in the Manchester terror attack that claimed 22 lives.

"We will activate more helplines to be of further assistance to families and friends of those affected by the attack," the High Commission said in a statement on Twitter.

The statement said any Indians injured in the attack could contact their Public Response Unit.

A suicide bomber blew himself up at a crowded arena hosting US star Ariana Grande's pop concert in Manchester, killing at least 22 people and injuring 59 others, the deadliest terror attack in the UK since the 7/7 bombings in 2005.

The lone attacker, carrying an improvised explosive device (IED), was also killed at the scene of the pop concert at Manchester Arena on Monday night.

"We have been treating this as a terrorist incident and we believe that while the attack last night was conducted by one man, the priority is to establish whether he was acting alone or as part of a network," said Chief Constable Ian Hopkins of Greater Manchester Police.

The Indian High Commission in London organised a community-wide event to mark Anti-Terrorism Day on Monday, coinciding with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's death anniversary on May 21.

"The scourge of terrorism affects innocent lives not just in one country but across the globe. No country and no people should shelter terrorists, promote terrorists or appease terrorists," the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha said at the event on Monday.

Those injured are being encouraged to contact the High Commission on 0207 632 3035.