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Muslim and Sikh taxi drivers have been praised on social media after offering their services to help victims, friends and relatives caught up in the Manchester attacks.

Twitter users were quick to jump to the defence of the city's Muslim community after some have sought to link the attack in Islam.

The bomber has been named by police as Salman Abedi.

The terrorist, whose house in the south of the city was raided this afternoon, detonated an explosive at Manchester Arena last night, killing 22 people - including children.

But after some were accused of exploiting the news of a terror attack to spread fear and prejudice, the rest of social media praised Muslims for their support and generosity.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

One Twitter user wrote: "Last night, while my aunty was frantically searching Manchester for my friend and her cousin, a MUSLIM taxi driver took her to find them."

Another added: "The taxi driver I saw at around 1am offering free rides at a police cordon a few hundred yards from Manchester Arena was a Muslim.

On Instagram, one man wrote: "My sister just went to pick her daughter up from the nursery and one of the teachers there, who had a brother at the concert last night in Manchester, said to her that a Muslim taxi driver from Manchester kindly drover her brother all the way back to Preston for free of charge."

But it wasn't just Muslim taxi drivers who were doing their bit for the community.

Sikh taxi driver AJ Singh was offering his services for free to anyone who needed help.

He told Channel 4 News: "I've had people who needed to find loved ones. I've dropped them off to the hospital.

"They've not had any money, they've been stranded."

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Liverpool's Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram paid tribute to a kindly cabbie who battled to find the frightened girls as they sheltered in a Manchester hotel.

“This is another one of those spontaneous acts of human kindness,” Mr Rotheram said.

“This guy abandoned his vehicle and made his way on foot with a mobile number I had given for the girls.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

“He found them at a hotel, a Holiday Inn in Manchester, he found them and their two cousins who they were with and led them back to the car.

“An hour later they were home and it was just...." the Mayor's voice trailed off.

"Good man. A good man.”

Other residents in Manchester were also on hand to offer food, phone chargers, a cup of tea, and even accommodation for the night to all those that were stranded.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Minutes after news broke of the Manchester Arena terror attack, following Ariana Grande's concert, there was an outpouring of love and support.

The moving offers included rooms to anyone who was stuck in the city, lifts out of the city centre, hot drinks or even a simple hug in the aftermath.

Actor Eamonn John Gannon was among those offering help, tweeting: "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."

Another Twitter user, Laura Burton, wrote: "Anyone needing a lift from Manchester, let me know and I can come to pick you up and make sure you're safe."

Martine Felicia said: "Need to be driven home? Need a place to stay for the night? I can offer both."

And Rebekah Spratt wrote: "If anyone needs a sofa, a charger, a brew-please [direct message]."

* In an earlier version of this article we incorrectly used the photograph of AJ Singh, who is a Sikh, under the headline: 'Muslim taxi drivers offered free lifts to people affected by Manchester terror attack as community comes together'. As soon as we were made aware of the mistake by a friend of Mr Singh, we corrected the headline and picture caption.