ISIS have claimed responsibility after a suicide bomber - named today as Salman Abedi - set off the ball bearing bomb that killed 22 and injured 119 in Manchester.

The terror group were quick to call Abedi one of their own as they gloated about the bombing 'in the midst of a gathering of the Crusaders' at an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night.

The extremists released a statement praising the soldier, less than 24 hours after the atrocity which is the worst terror attack Britain has seen since the London 7/7 bombings.

ISIS have claimed responsibility after a terrorist - named today as Salman Abedi - set off the ball bearing bomb that killed 22 and injured 119 in Manchester. Pictured, the extremists' statement

The terror group were quick to call Abedi one of their own as they gloated about the bombing 'in the midst of a gathering of the Crusaders' at an Ariana Grande concert. Bloodied concertgoers were pictured being helped by armed police outside the arena after the bomb

Eight-year-old Saffie Roussos, 18-year-old Georgina Callander and 26-year-old John Atkinson were among those killed.

Of the injured, at least 12 were children were among 59 taken to hospital, with 60 others treated at the scene.

‘With Allah’s grace and support, a soldier of the Khilafah managed to place explosive devices in the midst of the gatherings of the Crusaders in the British city of Manchester,’ their statement read.

The group said the attack was ‘revenge for Allah’s religion… in response to their transgressions against the lands of the Muslims.'

They appeared to wrongly state that a number of explosive devices had been detonated, when police have said the attacker was carrying one bomb.

'The explosive devices were detonated in the shameless concert arena. What comes next will be more severe on the worshipers of the Cross and their allies,' it read.

Eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos (left), from Preston, and 18-year-old Georgina Callander (right) have been named as victims. It is feared many children are among those killed, as well as parents who had accompanied their youngsters to the concert or were picking them up

Britain is on its second-highest alert level of 'severe', meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely. Pictured: Concert-goers fleeing Manchester Arena last night

The terror group said 'one of the caliphate's soldiers placed bombs among the crowds'

The extremists were quick to call the killer one of their soldiers, as has become the trend in the wake of many recent attacks in Europe.

But US director of national intelligence Dan Coats said ISIS claims responsibility for 'virtually every attack'.

Commenting on the Manchester attack, Mr Coats told the senate armed services committee the atrocity was 'tragic' and a reminder of the real threat faced by the West and its allies.

Mr Coats said: 'Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack in Manchester, although they claim responsibility for virtually every attack. We have not verified yet the connection.'

Traumatised witnesses have told how of nuts and bolts tore into young music fans when the bomb was detonated in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena moments after a concert by the US popstar ended.

The bomber - named as Salman Abedi by US officials this afternoon - was known to authorities.

Forensics officers emerge after inspecting the horrific scene where a suicide bomber killed 22 people as they left a pop concert at the Manchester arena last night

This was the scene inside the Manchester Arena last night after the terror attack at the teen concert

A father carries away his daughter away following the suspected terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert

He died at the scene and police carried out a controlled explosion at what is believed to be his home during raids around the city today.

A 23-year-old man was also arrested by anti-terror officers as police and security services attempt to work out if the suicide bomber was part of a cell.

Security sources have told MailOnline that initial analysis of the 'sophisticated' device suggests it was made by an expert.

Hundreds of people are now desperately trying to track down loved ones who went missing in the aftermath of the attack, with police having to tell some parents their children have died.

Describing the scenes after the blast, a man who was at the scene told how he cradled a dying woman and saw a girl with her legs blown off.

Another eyewitness told MailOnline she saw a young girl screaming 'I don't know where my sister is'.

A Twitter account - which was unverified - posted this four hours before the attack

Several ISIS-friendly accounts posted the hashtag #ManchesteArena and #ArianaGrande

None of the ISIS fan pages have claimed responsibility for last night's terror attack

It emerged today that, around the time of the incident, an unverified Twitter account posted cryptic tweets showing the ISIS black flag alongside the hashtags #IslamicState and #Manchesterarena.

The account then posted a message saying: 'You forget our threat? This is the just terror'. His account was deleted shortly afterwards. Police have declined to comment on the messages.

SAS troops were drafted into Manchester yesterday to support the police as counter terror officers launched a major operation to find friends and relatives of the suicide bomber.

The 20 strong heavily armed team were flown north as part of a contingency plan to counter any surge in extremist violence such as a hostage situation that will require military intervention.

The identity of the attacker, who was also killed, is not yet known and the deadly blast is being treated as an act of terrorism

A major police operation is underway this morning to determine whether the suicide attacker who detonated a nail bomb at Manchester Arena last night was part of a terror cell

Under the direction of the Counter Terrorist Command the soldiers, many of who have worked with specialist police unit in the past few years, were on standby to join undercover teams and armed response units deployed in the city.

The move came as Air Marshall Sir Stuart Peach, the head of the UK's armed forces, told a Cobra meeting that the military was ready to put armed soldiers on the streets if directed by the Prime Minister.

As part of an ongoing high readiness response, codenamed Op Temperer, Army commanders have three infantry battalions of armed soldiers ready to deploy anywhere across the country to support the police.

The Prime Minister is understood to be reviewing a wider intelligence assessment from officers at the Joint Terrorist Analysis Cell, before making any decision on the deployment of armed soldiers on mainland Britain.

The rotation of available soldiers changes on a regular basis with paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade currently listed as the 'in role' force ready to provide additional public security.