Desperate parents and friends used social media to search for loved ones on Tuesday after a blast killed at least 19 people at a British concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande, with images of happy-looking teenagers posted next to pleas for help.
“Everyone pls share this, my little sister Emma was at the Ari concert tonight in #Manchester and she isn’t answering her phone, pls help me,” said one message posted alongside a picture of a blonde-haired girl with flowers in her hair.

Another Twitter user called Erin:P urged people to help him find his sister: “She’s wearing a pink sweatshirt and blue jeans. Her name is Whitney.”
DON’T STOP RETWEETING UNTIL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE R REUNITED WITH THEIR LOVE ONES ❤️ 🙏🏾#Manchester #roomformanchester #prayersforManchester pic.twitter.com/dhDRDmYtpr
— Drake Teacher (@TeacherDrake) May 23, 2017
The blast rocked the foyer of the Manchester Arena as thousands of young fans and parents streamed out of the venue after the show by the U.S. singer, whose fan base is made up largely of teenagers and pre-teens.

A third Twitter account, Deplorable MrsK, posted a picture of a young man smiling and wearing a suit, saying: “My son was in the Manchester Arena today. He’s not picking up my call! Please….”
If any sees this girl at the #ArianaGrandeConcert please let me know, this is my sister Shannon, please retweet this pic.twitter.com/ymtGYA5nMR
— Aaron_Sparrow (@AaronSparrowPS4) May 23, 2017
Montages of smiling faces were being circulated of teens still unaccounted for after the concert.
Paula Robinson, 48, was at the train station next to the arena with her husband when she felt the explosion and saw dozens of teenage girls screaming and running away from the arena.
“We ran out,” she told Reuters. “It was literally seconds after the explosion. I got the teens to run with me.”
my friend is missing, He was @ the #Ariana #ArianaGrandeConcert today. we’ve lost contact since the news was on air. RT & Share #Manchester pic.twitter.com/uXmuCFCQxh
— ARIF MAJEED (@arif_majeed) May 23, 2017
My friend is at the Ariana concert if you see her tell me plz she won’t answer her messages #bbcnews #Manchester #ArianaGrandeConcert pic.twitter.com/ZBmPZMNJSI
— Caitlin Atkinson (@caitlin23121) May 22, 2017
Robinson took dozens of teenage girls to the nearby Holiday Inn Express hotel and tweeted out her phone number to worried parents telling them to meet her there. She said her phone had not stopped ringing since her tweet.
“Parents were frantic running about trying to get to their children,” she said. “There were lots of children at Holiday Inn.”
Social media posts said the Premier Inn and other Manchester hotels had also thrown their doors open as shelters, with reports of up to 60 children at the Holiday Inn.
#BREAKING: #ArianaGrandeConcert – Bang occurred in foyer of #ManchesterArena around 10:30pm- Several dead,many injured- Treated as terror pic.twitter.com/rF0fImjtvI
— Rafael Lopez (@Rlopeznews) May 22, 2017
In other messages, taxi drivers offered to ferry those who needed to leave the city for free, while the hashtag #RoomForManchester was being used to offer free bedrooms and sofas for anyone stuck in the city.
“I’m 10 mins from Manchester city centre and can give lifts to or from anywhere. Anyone needs help, just let me know. #roomformanchester,” wrote a Twitter user called Danny Hutch.
I’m 10 mins away from the arena and if anyone needs food drinks or charge your phone or a sofa or anything get in touch #roomformanchester
— Eamon (@eamonjohngannon) May 23, 2017
If anybody needs somewhere to stay tonight me and my girlfriend have a flat in Stockport, 10 minutes outside Manchester #roomformanchester
— token northerner (@ChloeBellaa) May 22, 2017
Holiday Inn Manchester is taking in children without parents. Call 0161 836 9600. Be safe ❤️#ManchesterArena #roomformanchester
— JD (@Dempsey86John) May 22, 2017
(Feature image source: Reuters)