Manchester Arena: Donald Trump brands suicide bomber behind terror attack as 'evil loser'

US President Donald Trump has offered his sympathy to the victims of the Manchester terror attack which killed at least 22 people, labelling the perpetrators "evil losers."

"I extend my deepest condolences to those so terribly injured... and to the so many families of the victims. We stand in absolute solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom.

"So many young beautiful and innocent people living and enjoying their lives, murdered... by evil losers in life," he said on Tuesday, speaking from the occupied West Bank.

"I won’t call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think that’s a great name. I will call them from now on losers because that’s what they are, they’re losers. And we’lll have more of them. But they’re losers, just remember that."

“The terrorists and extremists and those who give them aid and comfort must be driven out from our society forever,” he added, calling on the international community to "protect human life."

Several children are among the 22 killed and 59 injured at an Ariana Grande pop concert in Manchester Arena on Monday evening after a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED), police said. "

Major investigations are still underway and security has been tightened in other UK cities following the attack - the worst on British soil since the 7/7 London bombings which killed 52 innocent people.

Prime Minister Theresa May has called an emergency Cobra meeting in Downing Street, and all political parties suspended general election campaigning as a mark of respect.

Mr Trump's comments on Tuesday morning came from Bethlehem, where he is visiting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as part of his maiden foreign trip since taking office in January.

"This is what I've spent the last few days talking about during my first trip overseas. Our society can have no tolerance for this continuation of bloodshed. We cannot stand a moment longer for the slaughter of innocent people," the president added.

The Palestinian leader also offered his condolences to the "British prime minister and the British people."

Other world leaders expressed their sympathies to the UK, noting the particularly barbaric nature of the attack in targeting young people.

"This incident, this attack, is especially vile, especially criminal, especially horrific because it appears to have been deliberately directed at teenagers," Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said.

“This is an attack on innocents. Surely there is no crime more reprehensible than the murder of children."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Pained by the attack in Manchester. We strongly condemn it. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured.”

In Japan a government spokesman said: “If this is a terrorist attack, such abhorrent acts of terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, and Japan firmly condemns such an act of terrorism."

“Canadians are shocked by the news of the horrific attack in Manchester tonight. Please keep the victims & their families in your thoughts,” Canadian leader Justin Trudeau also tweeted.