Manchester Arena blast: This unverified Twitter account ‘predicted’ the attack 4 hours BEFORE it happened

In the meantime, screenshots of a couple of messages that were tweeted around 4 hours before the attack took place have begun doing the rounds on social media websites such as Twitter. These tweets – from the account @owys663 – seem to predict the incident. In one tweet it says, “#ISLAMICSTATE #manchesterarena #UK #British ARE YOU FORGET OUR THREAT ? THIS IS THE JUST TERROR”, and another was an image with the hashtag #manchesterarena.

The unverified Twitter account has now been suspended, but screenshots of the messages are being shared on the micro-blogging site. The tweets started at 6.24pm on May 22, with another at 6.28pm and yet another at 6.32pm. The blast happened at around 10.35pm, local time.

Can anyone verify this account @owys663 ? Posted earlier tonight #Manchester pic.twitter.com/7v9yD6EWdX

— Tab (@Tab1Lambert) May 22, 2017

@Tab1Lambert @owys663 pic.twitter.com/9Y9UngGmiu

— Brooklynn (@Brooklynnm77) May 23, 2017

The account later apparently posted this before being taken down again:

@jjhallows @janders9414 @owys663 Account came back up and this got posted. pic.twitter.com/hWE2dViWo1

— Scott lee (@scottplee) May 23, 2017

Other ISIS supporting groups have been posting celebratory tweets online, with some saying that the blast was meant to be revenge for Mosul airstrikes.

1) No claim regarding blast in #Manchester, but #ISIS accounts celebrating the attack, disseminating media & threats pic.twitter.com/Z8VqKWUkXD

— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) May 23, 2017

2) Pro-#ISIS forum users call #Manchester attack “a successful and surprising blow,” to #Britain, frame attack as retaliation for airstrikes pic.twitter.com/aDu1KBHaCE

— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) May 23, 2017

3)Lately pro-#ISIS accounts have called supporters to”hunt your prey” in #UK providing info on community centers,tourist areas&gov buildings pic.twitter.com/wFkuuxsBFW

— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) May 23, 2017

The blast took place shortly after American pop singer Ariana Grande finished her concert, and is suspected to have been carried out by a suicide attacker. Most of those affected by the blast were women and young children, teenagers who had gone to attend the concert. Local police and emergency services were immediately deployed to help the concert-goers.

ALSO SEE | Manchester Arena attack: Blast at Ariana Grande concert unites Twitterati; offer prayers, help for those affected

The social media space, though, is buzzing with good Samaritans who have come forth offering help to those in distress. Much like the rally that followed previous world attacks, hashtags such as #roomformanchester and #Prayformanchester started trending, with people offering room and board and any kind of help that affected victims might need.