Peter Byrne / PA Wire Peter Byrne / PA Wire / PA Wire

PEOPLE ACROSS IRELAND and the UK are waking up to the horrific news of an explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police say 22 people are confirmed dead, with a further 59 injured. The singer was unharmed, but has reportedly postponed the rest of her European tour in the wake of the incident.

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News of the tragedy broke while British presenter James Corden was recording his show in Los Angeles last night, and he took a moment to send his thoughts to the people of Manchester in an emotional message.

Describing the city to his American viewers, he said it was the home of “comedy, curries and character”:

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Many of you won’t have ever been to Manchester but you will definitely have heard of it. It’s famous all over the world for so many things. Great football teams – Man City, Man United. Great music – Oasis and Joy Division. It was the birthplace of the leader of the suffragettes, it was the home of the maker of the first computer. It’s the home of comedy and curries and character.

But when I think of Manchester, the place that I know, I think of the spirit of the people there, I’m telling you a more tight knit group of people you will be hard pressed to find. Strong, proud, caring people with community at its core, and if it was even possible, the spirit of Manchester will grow even stronger this evening.

Corden is one of many in the entertainment industry to speak out about the attack – Bruno Mars, who is also on an international tour, said it was a “nightmare”:

Lorde echoed his thoughts, saying that “shows should be safe” for the fans:

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Liam Gallagher, meanwhile, said he was “devastated” to hear of the attack in his home city.

Other celebrities offering tributes include Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande’s frequent collaborator, Nicki Minaj.

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Grande’s manager, Scooter Braun, released a statement on behalf of the popstar which read:

Tonight, our hearts are broken. Words cannot express our sorrow for the victims and families harmed in this senseless attack. We mourn the lives of children and loved ones taken by this cowardly act.

We are thankful for the selfless service tonight of Manchester’s first responders who rushed towards danger to help save lives. We ask all of you to hold the victims, their families, and all those affected in your hearts and prayers.

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